Employment

Traditionally, Quad Cities (Northwest Illinois and Southeast Iowa) employment has been based in manufacturing. In recent years, area employment opportunities have diversified, with growth in many different areas, including hospitality and gaming, health care, finance and insurance.

The number one employer in the region is Arsenal Island (8,987), followed by John Deere (6,300), Hon Industries (3,900), Genesis Health Care (4,900), Trinity Health Care Systems (2,900), Tyson Fresh Meats (2,400) and Alcoa (2,200). As of April 2023, the unemployment rate was at 3.5%. The Quad Cities does have an announced market, but be prepared to network in the hidden job market through informational interviews. 

The labor market on the installation involves primarily federal government workers (civil service) for the Department of the Army with a few other Department of Defense organizations. There are Non-Appropriated Fund jobs available plus work for major contractors that support the garrison and tenant activities. 

The labor market off the installation focuses on the service industry due to the hotels, shopping stores, restaurants, casinos and other retail and customer service business. Health care professionals are in demand at the hospitals, clinics and geriatric centers. Opportunities exist in security, retail sales, transportation and temporary administrative work. Larger local companies hire on occasion. 

Since the cost of living is lower than the national average, wages in the Quad Cities are also lower than the national average. You can do research on the web under ZIP Codes 61201 (Rock Island, Illinois) or 52801 (Davenport, Iowa) for salary information. Visit the Quad Cities Development Group website for more information on employers. You can review the want ads in the newspapers (under Jobs) at the Moline Dispatch and the Quad City Times.

The Quad Cities are in two states: Illinois and Iowa. Visit America's Job Bank on the web. The Moline, Illinois, Workforce Development Center can be reached at 309-764-8383 and is located at 500 42^nd St., Suite 1, Rock Island, IL 61201. The Davenport, Iowa, Workforce Development Center can be reached at 563-445-3200 and is located at 902 West Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA 52806-5783 (in the Village Shopping Center, it’s a one-story brown brick building in the east parking lot, two traffic lights west of NorthPark Mall).

Army Community Service Employment Readiness Program

The  Employment Readiness Program, of Army Community Service, is located on the first floor of Building 110, in the southeast corner. Call 309-782-0815 or toll-free 877-882-0523.

The Army Spouse Employer Network has more than a dozen employers that have pledged to support the military family, including Home Depot, Sears, Starbucks, Adecco, Manpower, the Boys and Girls Clubs, the commissary, the post exchange, Morale, Welfare and Recreation and the Army Civilian Personnel Online.

RIA ACS Employment Readiness Program specializes in the federal employment system (USAjobs) with classes and one-on-one appointments. Support is available for job search objective development, resumes, applications, interviews and salary negotiations. A list of local contacts by company on and off the installation is available for research for informational interviewing. The Employment Readiness Program also has a small computer center and library for clients to do research, use the internet, make calls, complete faxes, write resumes and make copies. The center is open during duty hours; client wanting one-on-one counseling are encouraged to make appointments.

Employment opportunities on the installation fall into four general categories.

• The largest is Army civilian employment. United States Army Garrison- Rock Island Arsenal is the garrison staff that conducts installation management and supports many tenant activities. The largest tenant is Army Sustainment Command. Other activities include the Joint Manufacturing Technology Center, the Joint Munitions Command, the Army Contracting Command. the Rock Island District Army Corps of Engineers and the Civilian Human Resources Agency, to name a few.
• Other federal agencies include the commissary, the post exchange and a national cemetery.
• Non-Appropriated Fund jobs for Family and Morale Welfare and Recreation include childcare, information tickets and the Leisure Travel Office, the auto skills center, outdoor recreation and gymnasium work.

There are contractors on the island providing support for public works, a credit union, food service, airline tickets and tours, janitorial services, tools support and information technology support. 

For job-hunting purposes when relocating, be sure to hand carry all employment records, documents, your Social Security card, a reference list, resumes, transcripts, certificates, licenses, OF612,  SF 50, your military identification card, and/or DD 214 Discharge Certificate, copy four with the type of discharge. You will probably need these documents immediately if searching for employment.

Rock Island Arsenal’s Army Education Center is located on the first floor of Building 56, in Room 118. Call 309-782-2065.

The Quad Cities are located in two states, so there are many commercial training institutes, two junior colleges, one state-based university and two private universities. The junior colleges are Black Hawk College in Moline, Illinois, and Scott Community College of Bettendorf, Iowa. Western Illinois University maintains a Quad Cities Campus in Moline. The two private colleges are Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, and St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.

The Employment Readiness Program of Army Community Service provides classes, coaching sessions, leads and advice on local and national scholarships. The best time to search for scholarships is between Halloween and Valentines Day, but some funding sources are open year-round. Contact ACS Employment Readiness Program at 309-782-0815 or toll-free at 877-882-0523.

My Career Advancement Account

For information on My Career Advancement Account and Military Spouse Education and Career Opportunities, visit Military OneSource.

Unemployment benefits information may be obtained from local workforce development centers:

• The Moline, Illinois, Workforce Development Center is located at 500 42^nd St., Suite 1, Rock Island, IL 61201. Call 309-764-8383.
• The Davenport, Iowa, Workforce Development Center is located at 902 West Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA 52806-5783 (Located in the Village Shopping Center, it is a one-story brown brick building in the east parking lot. It is two traffic lights west of NorthPark Mall). Call 563-445-3200.