Illinois Department of Labor Honors Futures for Kids Day at Illinois State Fair with Manufacturing Exhibit

SPRINGFIELD—In honor of Futures for Kids Day at the Illinois State Fair, Illinois OSHA, a division of the Illinois Department of Labor, invites the public to participate in an engaging manufacturing exhibit in the Governor’s Tent.

The Department partnered with the Sandvik Coromant Productivity Center of Schaumburg and high schools in Elgin Area School District U-46 to promote high tech manufacturing, which is a significant part of the Illinois economy:

• Manufacturing is the 2nd largest industry in Illinois
• Output produced $99.67 billion, which makes up 13.4% of state’s gross domestic product in 2015
• There were $58.26 billion in manufactured goods exported from Illinois
• 572,500 manufacturing employees are in Illinois and earn on average $81,048 annually

The manufacturing exhibit highlights workplace safety tools with downloadable smartphone apps, such as the decibel detector and heat safety app, and personal protective equipment. Information for metal cutting e-learning and other vocational training resources is also readily available to all attendees, particularly for students both young and old.

“Hands-on education can help young Illinoisans become the qualified employees that local businesses need to succeed,” said IDOL Director Hugo Chaviano. “Teaching important safety lessons now will encourage safety for our future workforce.”

“We’re thrilled to participate in the State Fair with the Illinois Department of Labor,” said Mark Alig of Sandvik Coromant. “We hope everyone joins us in supporting Futures for Kids Day and stops by to learn more about the manufacturing process.”

Throughout the State Fair from 10AM to 6PM each day, the IDOL Manufacturing Exhibit will be open to the public. The high schools that are participating are Streamwood High School and Bartlett High School.

For more information about the Illinois Department of Labor, visit our website at labor.illinois.gov. You can also find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/ILDeptofLabor or follow us on Twitter @ILDeptofLabor.