Industry Overview

The pandemic caused economic disruption on a local and national scale, with over 22 million jobs lost between February and April 20201. Between 2020 and 2030, a 7.7% growth in employment for all occupations is proected, with 6% attributed to pandemic recovery. Green infrastructure industry sectors are expected to lag the national rate, with a 6.35 percent increase in employment.

Projected percent employment growth between 2020 and 2030 differs by occupational group. Management occupations have the highest percent change due to pandemic recovery, totaling 9.3 percent of total employment change due to pandemic recovery. Meanwhile, the life, physical, and social science occupations may only see a 1.1% increase in employment as a result of pandemic recovery. However, the industry expects 6.8% of its employment change to exclude pandemic recovery, implying that a larger share of its growth may occur without much disruption from the pandemic’s impact. Production occupations are the only industry sector expected to experience a negative percent employment change at -0.4%, losing over 39,000 jobs between 2020 and 2030.

Figure 2 highlights information on 27 of the 30 core green infrastructure occupation groups by showcasing each occupation’s concentration (i.e., its location quotient), growth between 2011 and 2021, and total number of jobs in each occupation (for more information, see ”How to Read a Bubble Chart”)

More than half of these occupations are strong and advancing, though there is a mix of employment concentrations and location quotients combinations. For example, employment for Forest and Line Conservation Technicians increased by 330% between 2011 and 2021, but its location quotient remains low at 0.37. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, on the other hand, have the highest location quotient of any occupation at 1.86, indicating that the occupation has higher-than-average per capita employment. Transportation and Materials Moving has the highest concentration of jobs and is thus one of the strongest industries in the Chicago MSA region.

There are a few occupations that are weak and have been declining for the past decade, outlined in the callout box to the right. It is critical for workforce development organizations, policymakers, businesses, and employers to address these job losses and

understand why they are occurring. Note that 27 out of 30 core green infrastructure occupations are represented here; three were not included due to unreported employment data. Unreported employment data resulted in the exclusion of certain occupations.

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers Construction and Building Inspectors Construction Laborers Construction Managers Control and Valve Installers, Except Mechanical Door Environmental Engineering Technicians Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse First-Line Supervisors of Constructuing Trades and Extraction Workers First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Services, and Groundskeeping Workers Forest and Conservation Technicians Helpers - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Landscaping Groundskeeping workers Machinist Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Roofers Septic Tank Servicers and Sewere Pipe Cleanears