Hiring local talent is one of the most impactful ways businesses can contribute to Chicago communities’ prosperity and reduce gun violence. Employment stabilizes households and neighborhoods, strengthens community ties, and supports economic mobility. Quality jobs create a cycle of prosperity that spills over into local businesses, schools, and public services, reducing the cost of those services for the entire region and enhancing the quality of life for everyone.
This initiative isn’t just about filling jobs—it’s about transforming communities through strategic employment to build safer neighborhoods and stronger local economies.
Get Involved!
Whether you're a business with jobs to fill, a community leader ready to collaborate, or an individual eager to contribute, there are many ways to participate.
Employment Map
The Civic Committee’s goal is to facilitate 20,000 new hires from Chicago’s South and West side neighborhoods.
The South and West side community areas currently experience employment rates and median household incomes lower than Chicago’s citywide averages.
Our Hiring Initiative aims to narrow these gaps. According to an analysis by McKinsey, by focusing on employing 20,000 individuals from the 20 neighborhoods experiencing the highest rates of unemployment, we can close approximately half of the employment gaps and reduce unemployment in Chicago. This goal aims to build stronger communities, reduce violence, and create sustainable economic growth in areas that have historically experienced disinvestment.
Job Placements
Our partners are helping connect South and West side residents to meaningful employment opportunities through training, coaching, and connections to employment opportunities.
Since launching in 2023, our partners have helped thousands of individuals from Chicago’s South and West sides secure employment. Tracking these placements provides a clearer picture of where progress is happening, how employment opportunities are reaching community areas of focus, and how participants are sustaining work over time.
The placements strengthen employers’ workforces while expanding economic opportunity in neighborhoods across Chicago.
Hire Chicago
Hire Chicago is the Hiring Initiative’s signature employer hiring program.
Hiring local talent is one of the most impactful ways businesses can contribute to Chicago communities’ prosperity and reduce gun violence. The Hire Chicago program connects Chicagoland employers with job-ready talent through a powerful network of community partners and institutions. Employers that join this cross-sector initiative get custom sourcing support, access to overlooked talent pools, and services to attract and retain top candidates.
In keeping with our commitment to transparency and accountability, we ask Hire Chicago Employer Partners to share aggregate hiring data so we can track overall progress toward our goals.
Employment Pathways
The Civic Committee is helping companies hire more South and West Side talent through four proven employment pathways.
Direct Hiring
Hiring from select communities through vetted workforce partners.
Apprenticeships
Developing “earn and learn” programs that provide on-the-job training and paths to full-time employment.
Third-Party Providers
Sourcing contract roles from third-party providers that hire from select communities.
Locating in Communities
Expanding companies' physical footprint to create jobs in select communities.
These four pathways provide flexibility in meeting the varied needs of businesses, potential employees, and communities. Each employer can select the most suitable pathway (or pathways) and work with our implementation partners to ensure they meet their hiring goals.
Hiring Initiative Partners
Chicago has a strong workforce ecosystem that helps employers identify, prepare, and support talent from communities that have historically faced barriers to employment.
The Civic Committee is working with partners who support Hiring Initiative employers and potential employees. These partners prepare workers for jobs before and after the point of hire, and some also help employees thrive in the workplace via third-party, wraparound services. In addition, a few select partners also help companies understand the needs and challenges of new talent pools and how changes to employer policies and practices can open doors for historically overlooked candidates.
