Fresh Profile: Illinois Jobs

Published on 2008-07-21

As the fifth largest state in the nation, Illinois is perhaps the most diverse Midwestern location in terms of its demographics and its varied economic drivers. While more than half of the state's population congregates in the Chicago metropolitan area, the rest are spread out across the plains in smaller cities and rural areas. Many of these residents hold agricultural, energy, or transportation jobs as members of those industries which earn Illinois its ranking as the state with the fifth largest gross state product.
Farms cover nearly 80% of Illinois's land area, so it's not surprising that the state's agricultural commodities bring in more than $9 billion per year and agricultural jobs in Illinois are in good supply. Top agricultural outputs include soybeans and corn, which is used in 40% of the ethanol consumed in the U.S. Hogs, cattle, dairy products, and wheat are also important to Illinois's agricultural industry.
In addition to agriculture, manufacturing rakes in billions of dollar each year, particularly in the chemical, food, machinery, fabricated metal products, and transportation equipment sectors. Like ag careers, manufacturing careers face no immediate danger to their availability. Illinois's energy industry is also very strong, providing energy jobs, producing millions of tons of coal each year, and refining hundreds of thousands of barrels of petroleum per day.
Almost half of Illinois's electricity is generated from nuclear power, and Illinois is the number one nuclear-generating state out of the 31 states that have nuclear plants. Thus, nuclear power plant jobs are a mainstay of Illinois job market. Other important sources of Illinois jobs are the financial sector, the publishing industry, medical industry, and the transportation and distribution industries.
Because the state's government is centered in Springfield, the state capitol, government jobs are the most abundant in the city. With a political history that includes former presidents Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant, it's no wonder that Springfield's residents are drawn to this type of work. That is, when they're not tempted by the city's array of unique foods or its performing arts culture. Healthcare jobs through Memorial Health System are popular, too. Trade, transportation, and utilities jobs round out the occupations commonly available to Springfield residents.
Of course any discussion of the state's economy would be remiss without touching on the economic powerhouse that is Chicago, the windy, biggest city in the state. The metropolitan area, called Chicagoland, is rich in its economic influence and cultural offerings. Due to its economic diversity, Chicago is considered to have the most balanced economy in the U.S. Its reputation as a major financial center has created a proliferation of finance jobs tied to its three major financial and futures exchanges. Chicago itself is home to 11 Fortune 500 companies, while the metropolitan area houses an additional 21 companies that provide jobs in Chicago. Aerospace giant Boeing is also a leading source of Chicago jobs; the company moved its headquarters from Seattle to Chicago in 2001. Boeing, the local O'Hare International Airport, and Midway International Airport have helped turn Chicago into a major transportation hub and provided many transportation and logistics jobs. Publishing, printing, food processing, and manufacturing jobs are also common among the city's residents.
Rockford, the third largest city in the state and largest city outside of the Chicagoland empire, has suffered a decline in its once strong manufacturing and industry sectors. Thus, in the last thirty years or so, the face of Rockford's economy has begun to change. More recently, IT careers and careers that stem from Rockford's burgeoning tourism industry have become more prevalent. No doubt this shift has helped spur new development in the downtown area.
Aurora and Naperville are respectively the second and fourth largest cities in the state. Nicknamed "The City of Lights," Aurora has a long tradition of manufacturing and industry. Its location on the edge of the Illinois Technology & Research Corridor gives residents access to a range of manufacturing and production jobs, as well as jobs in healthcare, information technology, and communications. Also located outside of Chicago, Naperville boasts a high number of professionals in the high-tech industry. It is the stomping ground for a large congregation of automobile retailers as well, creating sales jobs for some of its residents.
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