MHEC Grant Will Support Comprehensive Economic and Labor Market Analysis in Illinois
The Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) has awarded an Illinois multi-partner collaborative—the State Attainment Working Group—a $250,000 Strategic Impact and Innovation Grant. The grant will support a comprehensive economic and labor market analysis to help project Illinois’ workforce needs in 2040.
The analysis will estimate future demand for workers by industry sector, degree and credential type, occupation, and region, providing a forward-looking view of the state’s talent needs to inform the state’s new postsecondary attainment goal.
Partners in the State Attainment Working Group are the Illinois Board of Higher Education, Illinois Community College Board, Illinois Department of Employment Security, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Department of Human Services, the Illinois Department of Corrections, and the First Lady’s Office. The group was formed in March 2026 after analysis suggested that 70% of jobs in Illinois will require postsecondary training beyond high school by 2031. Previously, in 2009, Illinois set a “60 by 25” goal, aiming for 60% of working-age adults to hold a high-quality degree or credential by 2025, a goal that galvanized cross-sector collaboration and drove the development of new policies and programs across the education-to-workforce pipeline.
“The State Attainment Working Group will set a north star for education and workforce development and provide the foundation for exploration of policies and practices that help address obstacles to equitable access to education and training,” says Deputy Governor for Education Martin Torres. “Establishing a state attainment goal informed by this economic and labor market analysis will enhance economic development, align cross-sector efforts, and expand equitable pathways for Illinoisans to earn meaningful credentials that lead to high-quality jobs and economic mobility.”
MHEC’s Strategic Impact and Innovation Grants support high-impact, collaborative initiatives that address state needs and that align with the MHEC’s vision to strengthen postsecondary education and advance regional economic vitality. Each of MHEC’s 12 member states can apply for a grant for up to $250,000.
“We were impressed by this bold and collaborative proposal,” said Susan G. Heegaard, MHEC President. “The group’s wise approach to estimate future workforce demand by industry sector, degree and credential type will not only provide an informed view of the state’s talent needs but also an approach that other states might employ.”