Employment & Employer Services (E&ES)

What Employment & Employer Services (E&ES) does

Employment & Employer Services (E&ES) is a Chicago-based 501(c)-style nonprofit workforce development organization founded in 1982 that connects job seekers with employment opportunities across the Chicagoland region. Headquartered at 223 W. Jackson Boulevard, Suite 1005, the organization operates American Job Centers, leads workforce programming in Local Workforce Innovation Area 7, and administers multiple city-, state-, and federally-funded placement programs serving job seekers in Chicago and Cook, Kane, Kendall, and DeKalb Counties. The organization reports more than 100,000 cumulative job placements since inception and maintains a staff in the 251–500 range.

E&ES's core programmatic products include an Employment Placement Program funded through the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS); an Employment Placement Services program funded through the Chicago Housing Authority for CHA-assisted families; a WIOA-aligned operator role through the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership; and a Workforce Solutions Program administered for the Chicago Department of Planning and Development using Tax Increment Financing, under which qualifying businesses can receive reimbursable grants of up to $500,000. The organization supplements these with an On-the-Job Training program, an internal "Hustle Award" staff performance culture, and a suite of internal digital tools including an Ops Dashboard, Outreach File, IDES Support interface, and Customer Reports. There is no evidence of proprietary AI/ML capability; the only AI-related offering is a participant-facing workshop on "AI as a Practical Job Search Tool."

The business model is grant- and contract-driven rather than fee-based. E&ES derives operating revenue from government and quasi-government entities (DFSS, CHA, DPD via TIF, WIOA pass-through via CCWP), and delivers placement, training, and supportive services to job seekers at no direct cost to them. Employer-facing services, including the Workforce Solutions Program grants and OJT subsidies, function as demand-side incentives that monetize E&ES through funder reimbursement rather than employer fees. This structure aligns E&ES revenue tightly to public-sector budget cycles and competitive procurement outcomes rather than to commercial sales cycles.

Name

Employment & Employer Services (E&ES)

Legal name

Employment & Employer Services

Website

https://eesforjobs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Employment & Employer Services (E&ES) is a Chicago-based nonprofit workforce development organization, founded in 1982, serving job seekers and employers across the Chicagoland area through American Job Centers, WIOA programs, and city-funded placement services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Employment Services (5613)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Onboarding, Offboarding & Employee Lifecycle Administration (BPACAHAL)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Job placement services
• Career coaching programs
• Employment placement programs
• Workforce training grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Workforce Programs: E&ES is publicly funded through partnerships with government agencies including WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), DFSS, Chicago Housing Authority, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, and TIF (Tax Increment Financing) funds. Services are provided at no cost to job seekers.
2. Workforce Solutions Program Administration: E&ES serves as Program Administrator for the City of Chicago's Department of Planning & Development Workforce Solutions Program, which provides reimbursable grants covering training costs for businesses up to $250,000-$500,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Employment & Employer Services (E&ES) is a Chicagoland-based workforce development organization that delivers free, publicly funded career coaching, job placement, training, and wraparound support services to job seekers, Chicago Housing Authority residents, and dislocated workers. It also administers the City of Chicago's Workforce Solutions Program, providing reimbursable training grants of up to $250,000–$500,000 to businesses for incumbent worker and new hire training.

Product overview

Employment & Employer Services (E&ES) is a workforce development organization providing a comprehensive suite of job search and career development services primarily in Chicagoland. The core offering consists of the Employment Placement Program (EPP) funded by DFSS and Employment Placement Services (EPS) for CHA residents, supplemented by WIOA program services and the Workforce Solutions Program for businesses. These are supported by Career Coaching Services, American Job Centers, and On-the-Job Training partnerships. E&ES operates through multiple service channels including physical locations (King Center, Daley College, Maywood, Harvey), virtual services, and an SMS Campaign system. The organization serves job seekers, CHA residents, families, and businesses seeking workforce training reimbursements and qualified candidates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Employment Placement Program (EPP) Workforce development program funded by the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) that provides personalized career coaching, job search support, resume assistance, interview preparation, and connections to employers in Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Targeted at Chicago residents seeking employment, housing stability, and career advancement.
• Employment Placement Services (EPS) for CHA Residents A specialized program for Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) public housing residents providing career coaching, job placement, and supportive services including transportation assistance, professional clothing, and childcare resources. Delivered on-site at CHA locations including Trumbull Park and Wentworth Gardens.
• WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) Program Federally funded workforce development program providing career coaching, paid on-the-job training with employer partners, direct job placement, Individual Training Account grants for certifications, and specialized services for veterans, dislocated workers, youth, and economically disadvantaged individuals.
• American Job Centers (AJCs) Physical and virtual centers offering career assessments, workshops, resume and interview preparation, job search assistance, and access to exclusive job listings not posted online. Operated at King Center (west side), Daley College (downtown), Maywood, and Harvey locations.
• On-the-Job Training (OJT) Training program where employers receive wage reimbursement while training new hires, allowing job seekers to earn while they learn with local employers across Chicago, Kane, Kendall, and DeKalb Counties. First staffing agency partner participating is PeopleShare at the King Center American Job Center.
• Workforce Solutions Program Reimbursable grant program administered by E&ES on behalf of the City of Chicago's Department of Planning and Development, funded through Tax Increment Financing (TIF). Covers up to 100% of eligible training costs for incumbent worker upskilling and new hire training, with standard maximums of $250,000 and up to $500,000 for projects demonstrating extraordinary community impact.
• CHA Families Program Family coaching and support services for Chicago Housing Authority families, providing wraparound support through Family and Career Coaches, Clinicians, and Housing Specialists. Addresses housing stability, family needs, and career development for CHA households.
• SMS Campaign Service SMS messaging service that allows subscribers to receive updates, appointment reminders, hiring event notifications, and follow-up communications from E&ES via text messages.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000+ job placements since 1982
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PeopleSharecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPeopleShare is the first staffing agency to participate in the On-the-Job Training (OJT) program at the King Center American Job Center. The partnership enables job seeker placements in warehouse, order picking, packing, customer service, and data entry positions through a structured supportive system. E&ES provides candidate referrals while PeopleShare facilitates employer connections.
• Chicago Cook Workforce PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerE&ES leads American Job Centers in LWIA 7 under this collaborative partnership. The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership provides funding oversight and collaborative working relationships that enable workforce development successes across all metrics serving Chicago and Cook County.
• The Journey ForwardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner providing financial awareness workshops to E&ES clients. The partnership offers additional wraparound services beyond E&ES core programming.
• Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerDFSS funds the Employment Placement Program (EPP) CDBG Workforce Program. DFSS Service Centers including Garfield Community Service Center serve as intake points where residents enroll in E&ES services. Program serves Chicago residents seeking employment, housing stability, and career advancement.
• Chicago Housing Authority (CHA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCHA partners with E&ES for Employment Placement Services (EPS) serving CHA residents. Services include career coaching, job placement, and support services for public housing residents at Trumbull Park and Wentworth Gardens locations. CHA also provides scholarships for residents pursuing education.
• American Job Centers (King Center, Daley College)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorE&ES operates American Job Centers at King Center (west side) and Daley College (downtown), plus additional locations in Maywood and Harvey. AJCs provide comprehensive workforce development services including career assessments, workshops, resume/interview assistance, and job search strategies. Located within underserved communities.
• City of Chicago Department of Planning & Development (DPD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerE&ES serves as Program Administrator for DPD's Workforce Solutions Program funded through Tax Increment Financing (TIF). The program provides reimbursable grants up to $250,000-$500,000 for business training costs. E&ES evaluates applications with final approval from DPD's Bureau of Small Business Development.
• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerWIOA is federal legislation providing workforce development funding that E&ES administers through American Job Centers. Services include Individual Training Account grants, career coaching, paid training, direct job placement, job training grants, and specialized services for veterans, dislocated workers, youth, and economically disadvantaged workers.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cara Collective: Chicago-based nonprofit focused on poverty-to-employment pathways, offering job placement, coaching, and employer engagement; directly competes for similar Chicago-area funding and employer relationships.
• National Able Network: Chicago-headquartered nonprofit operating WIOA-funded workforce development programs serving similar disadvantaged populations in the same metro, with comparable career coaching, training, and placement services.
• Year Up: National nonprofit workforce development organization focused on young adults from low-income communities, combining skills training with career placement—directly comparable mission and outcome-based funding model.
• Upwardly Global: National nonprofit workforce development organization serving skilled immigrants and refugees with career coaching, training, and employer engagement—a directly comparable outcome-based placement model.
• Telamon Corporation: National nonprofit providing WIOA-funded workforce development services, including career training, OJT, and rural/urban job placement—competes for similar federal workforce contracts and grant funding.
• Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free IT and workforce skills training to individuals from low-income communities, with employer partnerships and placement services that mirror E&ES's WIOA-aligned approach.
• Jewish Vocational Service (JVS): Workforce development nonprofit providing career training, coaching, and placement services to underserved populations; comparable service mix including WIOA-aligned programs and barrier-removal support.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: Large national nonprofit workforce development operator offering job placement, training, and wraparound services; competes for similar federal/state workforce contracts and serves overlapping populations.

Regional players

• Heartland Alliance: Chicago-headquartered human services organization with workforce development programs serving similar disadvantaged populations; overlapping geographic footprint and public funding streams.

Others

• Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership: Umbrella convener/funder of Chicago-area workforce providers including E&ES itself; comparable as a peer organization with shared WIOA funding oversight and collaborative program delivery in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Employment & Employer Services (E&ES)