Illinois Employment & Job Training
Illinois Employment & Job Training – Second-Chance Friendly Options
This page highlights Illinois workforce programs, reentry initiatives, and employers that are known to consider applicants with a criminal record. Policies can vary by location, offense type, and hiring manager. Always review posted job requirements and follow any work restrictions in your probation, parole, or court order.
Chicagoland & Cook County – Reentry Employment
Counties: Cook, Lake, DuPage, Will
✅ Verified Reentry & Workforce Partners
Safer Foundation
Long-standing reentry organization providing job readiness, transitional employment, and placement support for people with arrest and conviction histories.
Long-standing reentry organization providing job readiness, transitional employment, and placement support for people with arrest and conviction histories.
Chicago / Cook
Chicago-Cook Workforce Partnership – American Job Centers
Network of workforce centers offering job search help, training referrals, and hiring events. Some programs are designed for justice-involved jobseekers.
Network of workforce centers offering job search help, training referrals, and hiring events. Some programs are designed for justice-involved jobseekers.
chicookworks.org
Mention if you are on probation or parole so they can route you to appropriate programs.
Mention if you are on probation or parole so they can route you to appropriate programs.
Cook County
Cara Collective
Provides job readiness training, coaching, and transitional jobs with an emphasis on people facing barriers such as justice involvement and homelessness.
Provides job readiness training, coaching, and transitional jobs with an emphasis on people facing barriers such as justice involvement and homelessness.
Chicago
🛠️ Eligible Industries & Employer Types
Warehouse, Logistics & Distribution Employers
Many warehouses hire through staffing agencies and may consider some records for entry-level roles such as picking, packing, and loading.
Many warehouses hire through staffing agencies and may consider some records for entry-level roles such as picking, packing, and loading.
Ask recruiters about background policies and avoid roles restricted in your court order.
Chicagoland
Hospitality, Janitorial & Back-of-House Roles
Some hotels, restaurants, and janitorial contractors consider applicants with certain records, especially for non–cash-handling roles.
Some hotels, restaurants, and janitorial contractors consider applicants with certain records, especially for non–cash-handling roles.
Be upfront about restrictions (e.g., bars, schools, private homes) and get officer approval.
Regionwide
Northern Illinois / Rockford
Counties: Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, DeKalb
✅ Verified Workforce & Reentry Partners
Illinois workNet Centers – Rockford & Northern IL
Statewide workforce network offering job search assistance, training programs, and WIOA-funded services for eligible adults and dislocated workers.
Statewide workforce network offering job search assistance, training programs, and WIOA-funded services for eligible adults and dislocated workers.
Northern Illinois
Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois
Provides job training, retail and warehouse roles, and employment support for people facing barriers to work, including justice involvement.
Provides job training, retail and warehouse roles, and employment support for people facing barriers to work, including justice involvement.
Rockford area
🛠️ Eligible Entry-Level Job Paths
Light Industrial & Manufacturing Roles
Smaller manufacturers and industrial employers sometimes hire justice-involved applicants, especially through staffing firms.
Smaller manufacturers and industrial employers sometimes hire justice-involved applicants, especially through staffing firms.
Clarify if driving, entering schools, or other restricted activities are part of the job.
Northern counties
Central Illinois – Springfield, Peoria & Bloomington
Counties: Sangamon, Peoria, McLean, Champaign, Macon & nearby
✅ Verified Workforce Boards & Goodwill
Illinois workNet – Central Illinois American Job Centers
American Job Centers in Springfield, Peoria, Bloomington, and other cities provide job search, training, and supportive services.
American Job Centers in Springfield, Peoria, Bloomington, and other cities provide job search, training, and supportive services.
Central Illinois
Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois
Offers retail and warehouse jobs, veteran and reentry services, and job-readiness training programs based in the Peoria region.
Offers retail and warehouse jobs, veteran and reentry services, and job-readiness training programs based in the Peoria region.
Peoria region
🛠️ Eligible Common Employer Types
Janitorial, Landscaping & Maintenance Contractors
Some contractors hire individuals with certain records for outdoor or building-maintenance work, depending on client sites.
Some contractors hire individuals with certain records for outdoor or building-maintenance work, depending on client sites.
Ask if job sites include schools, hospitals, or private homes and clear that with your officer.
Central Illinois
Southwest Illinois / Metro East
Counties: St. Clair, Madison, Monroe & nearby
✅ Verified Workforce & Reentry Resources
Local American Job Centers (Metro East)
Area workforce centers provide job search and training support for residents of the Metro East region in partnership with Illinois workNet.
Area workforce centers provide job search and training support for residents of the Metro East region in partnership with Illinois workNet.
illinoisworknet.com/Locations
Ask career planners which employers are most open to justice-involved applicants.
Ask career planners which employers are most open to justice-involved applicants.
Metro East counties
🛠️ Eligible Distribution & Service Jobs
Distribution Centers & Service Employers
Distribution hubs and service-sector employers near the St. Louis region sometimes consider applicants with certain records for entry-level roles.
Distribution hubs and service-sector employers near the St. Louis region sometimes consider applicants with certain records for entry-level roles.
Check each posting for background check language and talk with your officer first.
Metro East
Illinois Statewide & Online
Covers: statewide & remote-friendly roles
✅ Verified Statewide Workforce & Training Tools
Illinois workNet – Online Portal
Statewide website for finding American Job Centers, training programs, virtual workshops, and career planning tools.
Statewide website for finding American Job Centers, training programs, virtual workshops, and career planning tools.
illinoisworknet.com
Use filters for your region and bring training ideas to your officer for approval.
Use filters for your region and bring training ideas to your officer for approval.
Statewide
🛠️ Eligible Remote & Fair-Chance Employers
Remote Work & Fair-Chance Employers
Some national employers advertise “fair chance” policies or limit early background questions, especially for remote customer support and tech roles.
Some national employers advertise “fair chance” policies or limit early background questions, especially for remote customer support and tech roles.
Even with “ban the box,” most companies still run a background check before hire.
Statewide / remote
Important: A “second-chance friendly” label means the program is known to work with justice-involved people; it is not a guarantee of approval or hiring.
Check restrictions: Some people are restricted from specific industries (security, bars, child care, in-home work, etc.). Always review your conditions and ask your officer before starting a new job or training program.
Legal disclaimer: OACRA does not provide legal advice, does not guarantee employment, and is not a staffing agency or employer of record.
