Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES)

IDES administers unemployment insurance,labor market information,as well as helps job seekers find jobs and employers find employees. The Illinois Worknet Center in Sterling is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. IDES operates the unemployment insurance program which provides temporary income-replacement for individual workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. IDES has an online job matching service on www.illinoisjoblink.com where job seekers are matched to the employers that are looking for the particular skills. IDES also holds resume and job hunting workshops for job seekers. Specialized assistance is offered to veterans and the formerly incarcerated. Career resources are also offered. Employers get one-on-one staff assistance, receive tax credits for hiring disadvantaged workers, offered to use an IDES facility for recruitment activity, online tax filing, and new businesses receive mass hiring assistance. In addition, IDES provides workforce and career information which is available on www.ides.illionis.gov and publications. Its economists conduct extensive analysis on the state economy and labor force. The Illinois Worknet Center website contains a list of the current employment opportunities in the specified counties. Other services of the IDES/IWC include employment counseling, community participation, apprenticeship programs, recruitment, outplacement, job training, and information services.