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Chicago Job Market Report

Chicago Job Market Report

Written by: Inception Point Ai
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 Welcome to the "Chicago Job Market Report," your premier source for the latest insights and trends in the Chicago employment landscape. Each episode, we dive deep into local job market analysis, uncovering key hiring trends, industry shifts, and career opportunities in the Windy City. Whether you're a job seeker looking to land your dream position, an employer scouting for top talent, or simply interested in understanding Chicago's economic pulse, our expert interviews and data-driven discussions provide valuable information you can't afford to miss. Stay informed, stay ahead, and boost your career with the "Chicago Job Market Report."

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Episodes
  • Chicago's Job Market: Signs of Cautious Recovery Amid National Disruptions

    Chicago's Job Market: Signs of Cautious Recovery Amid National Disruptions
    Feb 2 2026
    Chicago's job market shows signs of cautious recovery amid national data disruptions. Total nonfarm employment in Illinois stood at 6,162.6 thousand in September 2025, seasonally adjusted, per FRED data from the St. Louis Fed, with slight declines from summer peaks. The Chicago Business Barometer surged to 54.0 in January 2026, signaling expansion for the first time since November 2023, according to MNI and ISM, driven by gains in employment, orders, and production. Unemployment specifics for Chicago remain unavailable due to a government shutdown delaying the January BLS jobs report, as reported by CBS News, creating gaps in precise local figures; Illinois' rate hovered around 4.6% in late 2025 per Illinois Policy Institute.

    Major industries include manufacturing, real estate, energy trading, and professional services, with top employers like BP, Caterpillar, and firms in construction materials such as Vulcan Materials. Growing sectors encompass small-format retail, multifamily housing with tightening vacancies, and maker economy manufacturing, fueled by neighborhood demand and adaptive reuse, as noted by Chicago REALTORS and CoStar analytics. Recent developments feature the first bank failure of 2026, Metropolitan Capital Bank & Trust, handled by FDIC, and skilled labor shortages reshaping manufacturer investments per Assembly Magazine. Seasonal patterns show manufacturing employment rising modestly to 48.1 in January per ISM, still below expansion. Commuting trends lean hybrid, as in BP's programs. Government initiatives like the Hope Center in Roseland provide jobs, mentorship, and housing on vacant lots, spurring retail like Chick-fil-A.

    The market evolves toward confidence with projected real estate sales growth and corporate relocations positioning Chicago as a top destination, per World Business Chicago. Key findings: Expansion underway but hampered by data gaps and labor constraints; opportunities in energy, procurement, and real estate. Current openings include BP's Early Talent Program in Supply, Trading, and Shipping in Chicago for 2027-2028 graduates; Caterpillar's Transportation Procurement Intern from May 2026 to May 2027; and positions at the Chicago Job Fair on February 4, 2026, covering accounting, marketing, and more.

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    3 mins
  • Chicago's Resilient Job Market: Healthcare, Government, and Tech Drive Growth in 2025

    Chicago's Resilient Job Market: Healthcare, Government, and Tech Drive Growth in 2025
    Jan 30 2026
    Chicago's job market ended 2025 strongly, with the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg Metro Division adding 28,800 nonfarm jobs over the year, marking 18 consecutive months of growth, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released January 29, 2026. The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 4.4 percent in December 2025, unchanged from December 2024, while total nonfarm employment reached a record for the month. Key industries driving gains included private education and health services with 20,200 jobs added, government at 15,500, information at 2,900, financial activities at 2,500, transportation-warehousing-utilities at 2,000, and construction at 1,400; losses occurred in retail trade minus 7,600 and manufacturing minus 6,100. Major employers span healthcare like Northwestern Medicine, finance such as JPMorgan Chase, and government entities.

    Growing sectors include construction, bolstered by housing demand and infrastructure needs projected to require 349,000 new workers nationally in 2026 per Associated Builders and Contractors, and AI integration in healthcare, finance, and manufacturing as noted by J.P. Morgan Private Bank. Recent developments show business activity expanding for the first time in two years in January 2026, with the Chicago Business Barometer at 54.0, employment up 17.5 points to its highest since December 2024, and new orders surging per MNI Indicators. Trends indicate steady over-the-year growth amid national uncertainty, with AI promising disruption followed by productivity gains and new roles. Seasonal patterns reflect typical December stability, though data gaps exist for early 2026 projections and commuting trends, which remain hybrid-influenced without fresh specifics. No prominent government initiatives are detailed in recent releases, but state focus sustains momentum. The market evolves toward rebalanced industrial activity and tech-driven reinvention.

    Key findings: Robust health services and government growth offset retail and manufacturing declines, positioning Chicago ahead of other Illinois metros with low unemployment and positive early 2026 signals.

    Current openings include software engineer at a Chicago biotech startup, event planner for corporate outsourcing firms, and construction project manager amid housing momentum.

    Thank you for tuning in, listeners, and please subscribe for more updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

    For more http://www.quietplease.ai

    Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
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    3 mins
  • Chicago's Resilient Job Market: Challenges, Opportunities, and Skilled Labor Shortages

    Chicago's Resilient Job Market: Challenges, Opportunities, and Skilled Labor Shortages
    Jan 26 2026
    Chicago's job market remains resilient amid statewide challenges, with the metro area adding jobs and posting a lower unemployment rate of 4.5 percent for the year ending November 2025, down from 4.8 percent, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The broader Illinois unemployment rate stood at 4.6 percent in December 2025, up slightly from November but down year-over-year, with total nonfarm payrolls reaching 6,159,300 after a modest monthly gain. Key industries include manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, private education and health services, and government, which saw the largest job increases in December, while trade, transportation, utilities, and construction faced declines. Major employers span electric utilities, food production like ADM, and professional services firms such as Banner Witcoff, which recently elected new shareholders.

    Growing sectors feature construction, needing 349,000 new workers nationally in 2026 per industry reports, alongside logistics where third-party logistics providers captured 44 of the top 100 industrial leases in 2025, and private equity with Grady Campbell naming top middle-market firms. Trends show a skilled labor shortage as the top concern for 79 percent of manufacturers, per CADDi's 2026 outlook, alongside national fears of a weaker job market, with only 43 percent of workers planning job searches this year according to Monster's WorkWatch Report. Recent developments include Illinois ranking third nationally for workforce development by Site Selection magazine, thanks to strong colleges, training, and over 162,849 certified workers, though funding gaps persist with workforce programs at under 6 percent of college budgets. Commuting trends and seasonal patterns lack specific Chicago data, as do detailed government initiatives beyond DCEO's economic efforts. Market evolution points to stable 3.4 percent salary budgets and a shift toward career-first training to address skills gaps.

    Current openings include skilled manufacturing roles at Chicago factories emphasizing shop-floor training, construction positions for sports complexes, and logistics jobs amid industrial lease booms.

    Key findings highlight Chicago's outperformance with falling unemployment and job growth in services, but manufacturers face acute labor shortages requiring expanded training.

    Thank you listeners for tuning in, and please subscribe for more insights. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

    For more http://www.quietplease.ai

    Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
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    3 mins
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