Illinois Students to Descend on Peoria for SkillsUSA’s Elite Workforce Development Competition (Peoria, IL) — Thousands of students representing schools from Chicagoland to deep Southern Illinois are headed to Peoria for their version of a call-up to the big leagues: showing off how their skills match up against their peers and in front of potential employers for the successful careers they seek, in Illinois’ premier workforce development showcase.

Students will compete in more than 150 career competitions April 25-27 at the Peoria Civic Center, as the culmination for a school year dedicated to career development through the SkillsUSA Illinois program. The SkillsUSA Illinois 2024 Championships conference is sponsored again this year by Caterpillar Inc. and the City of Peoria.

The three-day celebration of students’ and schools’ commitment to career and technical education (CTE), all made possible by hundreds of industry partners, trade associations and labor organizations who volunteer countless hours to judge the competitions as students race against the clock and each other to prove their expertise in manufacturing, electronics, computer-aided drafting, culinary arts, construction, hospitality, human services and much more.

Students arrive in Peoria after advancing from qualifying and regional Championships competitions. Winners of the statewide Championships on this weekend will go on to compete in the national SkillsUSA Championships this June in Atlanta, GA.

Some of the competing schools traveled to Springfield in early March for the first SkillsUSA Illinois Lobby Day, where they met legislators at the State Capitol and advocated for expanded funding and flexibility for CTE programs. SkillsUSA programming is supported by a state grant under the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship program. Gov. JB Pritzker has proposed a $10 million increase in CTE funding for next year.

SkillsUSA Illinois’ mission is to help employers statewide address a growing skills gap with its nonprofit partnership of students, instructors, and industry to introduce and encourage young people about employment needs and the skilled workforce required to meet them. “We are so grateful to Caterpillar, the City of Peoria, and our dedicated industry partners and volunteers who make these Championships and all of our work to help connect students and careers a big success,” said SkillsUSA Illinois Executive Director Eric Hill. “Our state needs more skilled workers, and the Championships provides a true spotlight into the excellent work being done across the state to meet those needs while we work to grow more talent and create new opportunities.”

Illinois Students to Descend on Peoria for SkillsUSA’s Elite Workforce Development Competition

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