In our latest data brief, “Strengthening the Talent Pipeline through STAMP: Regional Trends in Manufacturing Pathway Participation,” we examines the first three years of the Scaling Transformative Advanced Manufacturing Pathways (STAMP) initiative, revealing both encouraging successes and important opportunities for growth.
Key Highlights
Since launching in 2022, STAMP has engaged 8,185 unique students across 19 Illinois school districts, with 2,720 students earning manufacturing credentials or graduating from high school. The program’s commitment to equity is paying off: nearly half of the participants come from low-income households, and more than 3,000 are students of color.
Perhaps most importantly, the data show that most participating districts are successfully enrolling low-income students at or above their proportional district representation—a critical indicator that these pathways are reaching students who can benefit most from manufacturing careers that offer middle-class wages without requiring a four-year degree.
However, our spatial analysis reveals places where manufacturing job growth is outpacing student pipeline development. Areas such as West Cook County, the South Side of Chicago, Peoria, and Rock Island exhibit strong manufacturing demand but relatively lower STAMP enrollment, highlighting prime opportunities for program expansion.
Why This Matters
With manufacturing comprising 9.5% of Illinois’ workforce and offering average annual wages of nearly $80,000, these pathways represent real economic mobility for students. As Illinois continues its $55 million investment in manufacturing workforce development, data like this helps ensure resources reach the communities that need them most.
This work, supported by the IMA Education Foundation and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Job Training and Economic Development program, demonstrates how strategic partnerships between education and industry can create meaningful pathways to prosperity for Illinois students.
