The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the state’s leading small business association, applauds the Illinois General Assembly’s passage of legislation expanding career and technical training opportunities for Illinois students.

“There is a skills gap in Illinois’ workforce,” said NFIB Illinois State Director Noah Finley. “SB 3070 addresses this challenge head-on, creating pathways for students to pursue career and vocational training. It’s a win for students, a win for small-business employers, and a win for the state.”

SB 3070, sponsored by Senator Willie Preston (District 16) and Representative Will Davis (District 30), grants high school students the option to meet graduation requirements by taking career and technical courses instead of foreign language classes.

Small-business owners are struggling to find skilled workers in today’s economy. In NFIB’s April Jobs Report survey, 29% of small-business owners reported openings for skilled workers.

Small business owners in Illinois overwhelmingly support career and technical training. In a recent NFIB member ballot, 96% of NFIB small-business owners in Illinois supported this proposal.

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is the largest small-business advocacy organization in Illinois and the nation, representing more than 10,000 small-business owners in Illinois alone. NFIB member businesses are independently owned and reflect the diversity of Illinois’ small-business community, including small businesses in retail, construction, transportation, hospitality, professional services, manufacturing, and agriculture.