The COVID-19 pandemic radically altered the U.S. economy, with unemployment peaking at , according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While jobs have been gaining since, millions of out-of-work Americans are still searching for jobs.
Before COVID-19 gutted the economy, the United States' economic landscape was , with health care, computer systems design, and scientific industries leading a push for more employment. On the flip side, industries like wired telecommunications, postal service, and textile production are showing a rapid decline. With the development of newer and more advanced technologies every day, the job landscape is shifting and so are the pay demands and prerequisite skills. There is a strong correlation between advanced education and a higher salary鈥攚orkers with higher education levels have higher wages and lower unemployment rates. Of course, it should be noted that obstacles remain for universal access to quality higher education.
compiled a list of industries with the highest employment in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area using data from . Industries are ranked by number of employees as of 2019.
Keep reading to see which industries in Chicago are the surest bets for employment.
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#19. Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Employed: 2,499 (0.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +33.0%
National
- Employed: 799,011
- Percent of total employment: 0.5%
- #19 most common industry nationwide
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#18. Management of companies and enterprises
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Employed: 10,711 (0.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +54.5%
National
- Employed: 232,031
- Percent of total employment: 0.1%
- #20 most common industry nationwide
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#17. Utilities
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Employed: 28,878 (0.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +4.9%
National
- Employed: 1,272,369
- Percent of total employment: 0.8%
- #18 most common industry nationwide
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#16. Information
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Employed: 82,488 (1.7% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -17.9%
National
- Employed: 2,959,616
- Percent of total employment: 1.9%
- #16 most common industry nationwide
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#15. Real estate and rental and leasing
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#14. Arts, entertainment, and recreation
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Employed: 112,084 (2.3% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +10.8%
National
- Employed: 3,532,697
- Percent of total employment: 2.2%
- #14 most common industry nationwide
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#13. Wholesale trade
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Employed: 139,300 (2.9% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -1.9%
National
- Employed: 4,013,368
- Percent of total employment: 2.5%
- #13 most common industry nationwide
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#12. Public administration
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Employed: 153,398 (3.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -6.5%
National
- Employed: 7,140,292
- Percent of total employment: 4.5%
- #11 most common industry nationwide
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#11. Administrative and support and waste management services
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Employed: 213,550 (4.5% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +7.4%
National
- Employed: 6,766,918
- Percent of total employment: 4.3%
- #12 most common industry nationwide
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#10. Other services, except public administration
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Employed: 223,489 (4.7% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +5.3%
National
- Employed: 7,584,054
- Percent of total employment: 4.8%
- #9 most common industry nationwide
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#9. Construction
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Employed: 267,387 (5.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +20.6%
National
- Employed: 11,036,894
- Percent of total employment: 7.0%
- #7 most common industry nationwide
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#8. Finance and insurance
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Employed: 272,700 (5.7% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +6.3%
National
- Employed: 7,263,440
- Percent of total employment: 4.6%
- #10 most common industry nationwide
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#7. Transportation and warehousing
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Employed: 320,896 (6.7% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +37.0%
National
- Employed: 7,665,636
- Percent of total employment: 4.8%
- #8 most common industry nationwide
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#6. Accommodation and food services
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Employed: 324,862 (6.8% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +5.2%
National
- Employed: 11,801,878
- Percent of total employment: 7.4%
- #5 most common industry nationwide
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#5. Educational services
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Employed: 434,012 (9.0% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +5.1%
National
- Employed: 14,839,461
- Percent of total employment: 9.3%
- #4 most common industry nationwide
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#4. Professional, scientific, and technical services
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Employed: 435,375 (9.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +28.5%
National
- Employed: 11,765,340
- Percent of total employment: 7.4%
- #6 most common industry nationwide
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#3. Retail trade
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Employed: 478,061 (10.0% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +1.5%
National
- Employed: 17,216,634
- Percent of total employment: 10.8%
- #2 most common industry nationwide
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#2. Manufacturing
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Employed: 556,674 (11.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +3.3%
National
- Employed: 15,770,698
- Percent of total employment: 9.9%
- #3 most common industry nationwide
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#1. Health care and social assistance
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area
- Employed: 637,895 (13.3% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +16.6%
National
- Employed: 22,131,751
- Percent of total employment: 13.9%
- #1 most common industry nationwide
