DeKalb Times

Republican candidate Jeff Keicher thinks a key factor in putting more locals to work could lie in both sides understanding where the other is coming from.

“As I have posted here before, we need to continue to foster an environment where job creators and job seekers find each other, at the right time, with the skills in demand,” Keicher wrote on Facebook.

His declaration was in response to a new Century Foundation and University of Illinois at Chicago Great Cities Institute study that found manufacturing remains one of the Chicago region’s biggest employers, with a workforce of more than 363,000 in 2017.

Between April 2017 and March 2018 approximately 58,000 jobs were posted in that sector, easily outpacing such sectors as retail, transportation/warehousing and education, according to researchers.

Researchers also found at least 16,000 unfilled jobs requiring a high school education last year.

Keicher is a small business owner and has made job creation, tax reform and outmigration major components of his campaign. He is running against Democrat Paul Stoddard for the seat being vacated by Rep. Robert Pritchard (R-Hinckley) in the 70th District.

“I’ve spoken to manufacturers over the past months that suggest the idea to match work with labor will be a win-win for many communities,” Keicher wrote.