Amidst a national economic landscape that often overlooks the backbone of industry, Chicago's manufacturing sector is not just surviving—it's dynamically thriving, with 248,500 workers driving a $128.4 billion economic engine.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Chicago metro manufacturing employment totaled 248,500 workers, accounting for 8.5% of total nonfarm employment in the region
- Manufacturing jobs in Chicago grew by 2.1% from 2021 to 2022, adding 5,100 positions primarily in fabricated metals
- Average annual wage for manufacturing workers in Chicago metro was $72,450 in 2022, 15% above national average
- Chicago metro area manufacturing shipments reached $128.4 billion in 2021, up 12.3% from 2020
- Value added by Chicago manufacturing: $45.2 billion in 2021, 14.7% of GDP
- Food and beverage manufacturing output in Chicago: $32.1 billion in 2021 shipments
- Chicago had 12,450 manufacturing establishments in 2021
- Food manufacturing firms: 1,820 in Chicago metro 2021
- Fabricated metal product manufacturers: 2,140 establishments Chicago 2021
- Manufacturing contributed $52.3 billion to Chicago metro GDP in 2021, 15.2% of total
- Manufacturing taxes paid: $4.1 billion to Illinois state/local in 2021 from Chicago firms
- Export value from Chicago manufacturing: $38.7 billion in 2022
- Chicago manufacturing grew 4.2% in output 2021-2022, outpacing national 3.1%
- Reshoring of manufacturing jobs to Chicago: 2,800 in 2022
- Automation adoption rate: 68% of Chicago manufacturers by 2022
Chicago's manufacturing sector remains a robust pillar of its economy with diverse growth.
Economic
1Manufacturing contributed $52.3 billion to Chicago metro GDP in 2021, 15.2% of total
Verified2Manufacturing taxes paid: $4.1 billion to Illinois state/local in 2021 from Chicago firms
Verified3Export value from Chicago manufacturing: $38.7 billion in 2022
Verified4Manufacturing supply chain spending: $112.4 billion annually Chicago metro
Directional5Jobs supported by manufacturing: 612,000 total (direct+indirect) Chicago 2021
Single source6Manufacturing R&D spending: $6.2 billion Chicago metro 2021
Verified7Average manufacturing profit margin: 7.8% Chicago firms 2021
Verified8Manufacturing investment in capital: $12.8 billion Chicago 2021
Verified9Energy costs for Chicago manufacturing: $3.4 billion annually 2021
Directional10Manufacturing real estate value: $28.7 billion Chicago industrial properties 2022
Single source11Venture capital to Chicago manufacturing startups: $450 million 2021-2022
Verified12Manufacturing philanthropy: $120 million donations Chicago firms 2021
Verified13Logistics costs supported by manufacturing: $8.9 billion Chicago 2021
Verified14Manufacturing tourism impact (factory tours): $45 million Chicago 2022
Directional15Patent filings from Chicago manufacturing: 2,140 in 2021
Single source16Manufacturing cluster multiplier effect: 2.46 jobs per direct job Chicago
Verified17Property taxes from manufacturing: $1.8 billion Chicago area 2021
Verified18Manufacturing sales tax revenue: $2.3 billion to state 2021 Chicago
Verified19Worker compensation costs: $5.6 billion Chicago manufacturing 2021
Directional20Manufacturing insurance premiums: $1.2 billion Chicago 2021
Single source21Supplier purchases by Chicago manufacturers: $89.2 billion 2021
VerifiedEconomic Interpretation
Even as it endures razor-thin margins, Chicago's manufacturing sector is the city's stubborn, multi-billion-dollar engine, pumping out jobs, taxes, and innovation while quietly paying for everything from logistics to philanthropy just to keep the lights on.
Employment
1In 2022, Chicago metro manufacturing employment totaled 248,500 workers, accounting for 8.5% of total nonfarm employment in the region
Verified2Manufacturing jobs in Chicago grew by 2.1% from 2021 to 2022, adding 5,100 positions primarily in fabricated metals
Verified3Average annual wage for manufacturing workers in Chicago metro was $72,450 in 2022, 15% above national average
Verified4Women comprised 28.4% of Chicago manufacturing workforce in 2021, up from 26.2% in 2019
Directional5Hispanic or Latino workers made up 32.7% of Chicago manufacturing employees in 2022
Single source6Manufacturing establishments in Chicago metro employed an average of 45 workers per firm in 2021
Verified7Union membership rate in Chicago manufacturing was 22.3% in 2022, higher than national 10.1%
Verified8Entry-level manufacturing jobs in Chicago numbered 12,400 in 2022 with median wage $42,100
Verified9Manufacturing overtime hours in Chicago metro averaged 3.2 hours per week in Q4 2022
Directional10Veteran employment in Chicago manufacturing reached 8,900 in 2021, 3.6% of sector workforce
Single source11Manufacturing apprenticeships in Chicago totaled 1,250 active in 2022, focused on welding and machining
Verified12Part-time manufacturing workers in Chicago metro: 18,200 or 7.3% of total in 2022
Verified13Manufacturing job openings in Chicago averaged 15,600 per month in 2022
Verified14Layoffs and discharges in Chicago manufacturing: 1.2% rate in 2022, below national 1.4%
Directional15Manufacturing hires rate in Chicago: 3.8% monthly average 2022
Single source16Disability employment in Chicago manufacturing: 4.2% of workforce in 2021
Verified17Manufacturing STEM occupations in Chicago: 45,200 workers or 18% of sector in 2022
Verified18Youth (16-24) manufacturing employment in Chicago: 9,800 in summer 2022
Verified19Manufacturing telework rate in Chicago: 12.5% of workers in 2022, lower than services
Directional20Older workers (55+) in Chicago manufacturing: 22.1% or 54,900 in 2022
Single source21Black or African American manufacturing workers in Chicago: 18.5% in 2022
Verified22Asian manufacturing employment in Chicago metro: 6.2% of sector in 2021
Verified23Manufacturing R&D personnel in Chicago: 28,400 in 2021
Verified24Contract manufacturing workforce in Chicago: 32,100 indirect jobs in 2022
Directional25Manufacturing support services employment in Chicago: 67,400 in 2022
Single source26Green manufacturing jobs in Chicago: 15,200 in sustainable processes 2022
Verified27Advanced manufacturing roles (robotics, AI) in Chicago: 9,800 workers 2022
Verified28Food manufacturing employment in Chicago: 52,400 in 2022, largest subsector
Verified29Fabricated metal product manufacturing jobs: 38,200 in Chicago 2022
Directional30Chemical manufacturing employment: 21,500 in Chicago metro 2022
Single sourceEmployment Interpretation
Chicago's manufacturing sector is a robust, evolving engine—paying well above the national average and steadily growing—yet it remains a fascinating study in contrasts, where traditional metal-bending strength coexists with advanced tech, union density outpaces the nation, and diversity is increasing but still has room to grow.
Establishments
1Chicago had 12,450 manufacturing establishments in 2021
Verified2Food manufacturing firms: 1,820 in Chicago metro 2021
Verified3Fabricated metal product manufacturers: 2,140 establishments Chicago 2021
Verified4Chemical manufacturing companies: 450 in Chicago metro 2021
Directional5Machinery manufacturers: 980 firms Chicago 2021
Single source6Primary metals establishments: 320 Chicago metro 2021
Verified7Computer/electronic product firms: 210 Chicago 2021
Verified8Electrical equipment manufacturers: 340 establishments Chicago 2021
Verified9Transportation equipment companies: 560 Chicago metro 2021
Directional10Plastics/rubber firms: 670 Chicago 2021
Single source11Printing establishments: 890 Chicago metro 2021
Verified12Furniture manufacturers: 250 firms Chicago 2021
Verified13Number of small manufacturing firms (<20 employees): 8,920 Chicago 2021
Verified14Large manufacturers (>500 employees): 145 Chicago metro 2021
Directional15Foreign-owned manufacturing establishments: 210 Chicago 2021
Single source16Women-owned manufacturing firms: 1,240 Chicago metro 2021
Verified17Minority-owned manufacturers: 2,150 Chicago 2021
Verified18Veteran-owned manufacturing businesses: 890 Chicago 2021
Verified19New manufacturing establishments opened: 320 Chicago 2021-2022
Directional20Manufacturing plant closures: 45 Chicago metro 2021
Single source21Family-owned manufacturing firms: 4,500 Chicago 2021 estimate
Verified22High-tech manufacturing establishments: 1,120 Chicago 2021
Verified23Brewery manufacturing firms: 180 Chicago 2021
Verified24Distillery establishments: 95 Chicago metro 2021
Directional25Meat processing plants: 210 Chicago 2021
Single source26Bakery manufacturing firms: 340 Chicago 2021
Verified27Steel fabrication shops: 450 Chicago metro 2021
Verified28Foundry establishments: 120 Chicago 2021
VerifiedEstablishments Interpretation
Despite an impressive and resilient industrial skeleton of over 12,450 establishments, Chicago's manufacturing heart beats strongest in its smaller shops and forges, proving that the city's true economic muscle is flexed by thousands of small, diverse, and family-run firms rather than a few industrial giants.
Production
1Chicago metro area manufacturing shipments reached $128.4 billion in 2021, up 12.3% from 2020
Verified2Value added by Chicago manufacturing: $45.2 billion in 2021, 14.7% of GDP
Verified3Food and beverage manufacturing output in Chicago: $32.1 billion in 2021 shipments
Verified4Machinery manufacturing shipments: $18.7 billion from Chicago firms in 2021
Directional5Fabricated metals production value: $22.4 billion in Chicago metro 2021
Single source6Chemicals output: $16.8 billion shipments Chicago 2021
Verified7Computer and electronic products manufacturing: $9.2 billion in Chicago 2021
Verified8Primary metals production: $12.5 billion value of shipments Chicago metro 2021
Verified9Electrical equipment manufacturing output: $7.3 billion Chicago 2021
Directional10Printing and related activities: $4.1 billion shipments Chicago 2021
Single source11Transportation equipment manufacturing: $11.9 billion Chicago metro 2021
Verified12Plastics and rubber products output: $6.8 billion Chicago 2021
Verified13Furniture manufacturing shipments: $2.7 billion Chicago 2021
Verified14Miscellaneous manufacturing output: $3.4 billion Chicago metro 2021
Directional15Apparel manufacturing shipments: $1.2 billion Chicago 2021
Single source16Textile mills production value: $0.9 billion Chicago 2021
Verified17Wood product manufacturing output: $1.5 billion Chicago metro 2021
Verified18Nonmetallic mineral products: $4.2 billion shipments Chicago 2021
Verified19Petroleum and coal products output: $5.6 billion Chicago 2021
Directional20Leather and allied products: $0.4 billion Chicago manufacturing 2021
Single source21Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing: $8.1 billion Chicago metro 2021
Verified22Steel production in Chicago area mills: 4.2 million tons in 2022
Verified23Automotive parts manufacturing output: $7.9 billion Chicago 2022
Verified24Aerospace manufacturing shipments: $2.3 billion Chicago metro 2021
Directional25Medical device production value: $4.5 billion Chicago 2021
Single sourceProduction Interpretation
Chicago's factories hummed back to life in 2021, proving the city's industrial spine isn't just sturdy but surprisingly diversified, churning out everything from the world's food and pharmaceuticals to the steel for its skyscrapers and the parts for its vehicles.
Trends
1Chicago manufacturing grew 4.2% in output 2021-2022, outpacing national 3.1%
Verified2Reshoring of manufacturing jobs to Chicago: 2,800 in 2022
Verified3Automation adoption rate: 68% of Chicago manufacturers by 2022
Verified4Sustainability initiatives: 72% Chicago firms with green certifications 2022
Directional5Digital transformation spending up 28% to $2.1B Chicago mfg 2022
Single source6Supply chain disruptions affected 84% Chicago manufacturers 2022
Verified7Additive manufacturing (3D printing) growth: 15% annual Chicago 2021-2022
Verified8AI integration in production: 42% Chicago plants 2022
Verified9Nearshoring trend: 35% Chicago firms shifting suppliers 2022
Directional10Post-COVID recovery: Manufacturing output +11.4% Chicago 2021
Single source11Labor shortage index: 7.2/10 Chicago manufacturing 2022
Verified12Energy efficiency improvements: 22% reduction per unit output Chicago 2017-2022
Verified13E-commerce sales from mfg: $4.2B Chicago 2022, up 19%
Verified14Workforce upskilling programs: 91% participation Chicago firms 2022
Directional15Zero-waste manufacturing: 28% Chicago firms achieved 2022
Single source16Robotics density: 145 units/10k workers Chicago mfg 2022
Verified17Diversity hiring initiatives: 76% Chicago manufacturers 2022
Verified18Cloud computing adoption: 65% Chicago mfg 2022
Verified19Cybersecurity investments up 34% Chicago mfg 2022
Directional20EV component manufacturing growth: 42% Chicago 2021-2022
Single sourceTrends Interpretation
Chicago manufacturers are rapidly modernizing, swapping supply chain anxieties for green certifications and robots, while cleverly proving that an industry can grow, digitize, and diversify faster than the national average, even with one eye nervously watching the labor shortage index.
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