How do we bridge the skills gap? Chicago has an answer

Nicole Barajas believes in the power of possibility. As a student at Malcolm X College and participant in the One Million Degrees program—a Chicago-based nonprofit that helps students in the community-college system succeed in school, work, and life by providing academic assistance, financial stipends, personal coaching, and professional development—she's experienced firsthand how the right support can transform someone's trajectory. "Everyone has the potential to be whatever they want," she says with conviction. "They just need that support." For Nicole, that support has opened doors to a degree she never imagined possible.

A path to economic mobility

Chicago's economy is gaining momentum, powered by diverse industries creating exciting new opportunities for skilled workers. The nation's third-largest metro area is experiencing growth across various sectors, from technology to healthcare to manufacturing.

The opportunity is enormous. Chicago offers a substantial number of middle-skills jobs—positions that pay well and provide clear pathways to prosperity. These roles, in areas including software development, healthcare support, and technical specialties, typically require some training beyond high school, but not necessarily a four-year degree.

The challenge? Matching eager workers with the training they need to seize these opportunities, especially in neighborhoods that haven't always had easy access to career-development resources.

Closing the gap in college: City colleges of Chicago and One Million Degrees

JPMorganChase has contributed $6 million to help bridge this gap through collaborations with organizations like City Colleges of Chicago and One Million Degrees—whose services are now available across the entire City Colleges system.

Our mission is all about economic mobility for our scholars," explains Josh Hoen, One Million Degrees' interim CEO. "You have one level of earnings with a high school diploma, a higher level with an associate degree, and much higher earning potential with a bachelor's degree.

During the 2023-2024 school year, City Colleges connected 115 students to registered apprenticeships with Chicago-area employers, including JPMorganChase. The approach creates a talent pipeline that benefits both students and employers—many of those apprenticeships blossomed into full-time careers in industries like finance, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and technology.

"This is a win-win proposition," says Veronica Herrero, Executive Vice Chancellor of City Colleges of Chicago. "It allows employers to discover untapped pools of talent across Chicago that they haven't been able to find or develop on their own—and helps build a much stronger city."

For students like Nicole Barajas, this support makes all the difference. "One Million Degrees was my biggest savior this season for school," she explains. "One Million Degrees is home. It's a safe haven." The program provides more than just academic assistance, she says—it offers a community where students can thrive.

Closing the gap in the community: The Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation

Beyond traditional educational institutions, Chicago is pioneering new ways to bring workforce development directly to neighborhoods. The Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation, which celebrated its grand opening in June 2025, delivers comprehensive career services—including coaching, training, and job-placement support—right where people live.

"We see the Aspire Center helping to drive economic growth," says Darnell Shields, Executive Director of Austin Coming Together, a nonprofit co-developer of the center, alongside Westside Health Authority.

This mixed-use training center supports 50 full-time positions and is anticipated to train more than 2,000 workers over the next five years. Four anchor organizations call it home, each specializing in different aspects of workforce development: advanced manufacturing training, reentry services, banking services, and job coaching. Industries need the career-ready workforce we are preparing, " Shields notes.

We provided bridge financing that accelerated the Center's construction and helped attract additional investment from throughout Chicago's job-training ecosystem. JPMorganChase has been an overall advocate for the project, promoting it, highlighting it, making sure that it's known in different spaces throughout the city, and encouraging others to support it.

Building pathways to prosperity

Jamie Dimon, our Chairman and CEO, has observed that skills are “far more important” for many jobs than a degree is. “If you look at skills of people,” he told LinkedIn in a 2024 conversation, “it is amazing how skilled people are in something, but it didn’t show up in their résumé.”

Through initiatives that connect training with opportunity, we are helping ensure that Chicago's economic growth benefits the residents of all of its communities. For students like Nicole, this comprehensive support system proves that with the right resources, dreams become achievable goals. As she puts it, "Everyone has the potential to be whatever they want. They just need that support."

The testimonials are the sole opinions or experiences of those featured and not those of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. or any of its affiliates. These opinions or experiences may not be representative of what all may achieve. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. or any of its affiliates are not liable for decisions made or actions taken in reliance on any of the testimonial information provided.