CVS Health has opened its new Workforce Innovation and Talent Center (WITC) in cooperation with the Chicago Baptist Institute, where the center will be located. The WITC will offer employment training for pharmacy technicians, retail associates, customer service and call center associates. Individuals that complete the training can apply for jobs at CVS Health. A simulated retail store within the WITC location will offer hands-on job training with experiences closely resembling real-world scenarios.
“At our new WITC, we’re dedicated to helping individuals build skills for in-demand jobs, like pharmacy technicians,” said Sheryl Burke, SVP of Corporate Social Responsibility and Chief Sustainability Officer at CVS Health in a statement. “Working alongside the Chicago Baptist Institute, we aim to make it easier for community members to access and find meaningful employment.”
Pharmacy technicians have been in somewhat short supply in recent years; many long-time techs left their jobs due to increased stressors brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a 2023 report from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.
CVS Health is exploring opportunities to expand this WITC program to serve the surrounding Chicago community. The retailer created job opportunities for more than 1,500 people across the country last year, in collaboration with local organizations and federal, state and local agencies.
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Other retailers also have invested in targeted training for potential employees, notably Carhartt, which donated $250,000 to support training for women in March 2024, and Lowe’s, which made nearly $9 million in grants to support skilled trades training in March 2025.
In April 2024 CVS revealed the role of closed-loop customer feedback as part of its customer-centricity strategy, and earlier this month, CVS announced it would close 271 physical stores as part of a multi-year strategic savings plan.
