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Key Findings
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Key Finding 1: Strong and Advancing Occupational Groups and Occupations
As of 2021, the Transportation and Materials Moving occupational group is the strongest occupational group in the Chicago MSA that shares green infrastructure-related work. The sector includes two occupations with some green infrastructure work: Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators and Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers (Hand). Between 2011 and 2021, jobs for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators grew by 45.6% and had a location quotient of 1.04. Between 2011 and 2021, jobs for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers (Hand) grew by 98.06% and had a location quotient of 1.86.
Figure 4. Green Infrastructure-Related Occupations with Highest Concentration in Chicago MSA, 2021
Figure 5. Green Infrastructure-Related Occupations with Highest Declines in Chicago MSA, 2011-2021
Key Finding 2: Declining Industry
In the Chicago MSA, a number of industry sectors have undergone considerable declines over the last decade. While some of these sectors may not have had a high concentration of jobs in 2011, job loss is still a significant change, particularly when looking at occupations that lost a significant share of their jobs rather than growing them. Tree Trimmers and Pruners lost the most jobs, with employment declining by 66.6% between 2011 and 2021. The occupation had a location quotient of 0.24 and only 300 jobs by 2021.
Construction Laborers were another occupation that underwent significant change. Over 7,910 jobs were lost between 2011 and 2021,
accounting for 27% of 2011 employment. With an estimated 20,550 jobs by 2021, this occupation had one of the highest concentrations. Notably, the occupation has a location quotient of 0.71; while it is not an exporter industry, it still employs a large number of people, and losing these jobs without proper replacement or transitioning may have many implications for the local economy as a whole.
Key Finding 3: Employment Projections, Local Growth vs. National Growth
According to employment projections for 2030, employment in all green infrastructure occupations is expected to vary. Some occupations in Chicago are expected to grow at a slower rate than those in Illinois and the rest of the country. A few occupations are expected to grow faster than the state of Illinois as a whole. However, when compared to Illinois and national rates, the Chicago region has a higher share of occupations that are expected to see significant job decline.
Figure 6. Larger Growth Rates for Chicago MSA, 2020- 2030 Projections
Chicago 3.6 4.2 2.1
2.3 -5.9 -1.9
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Law Service, and Groundskeeping Workers Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators Pipelayers
Illinois
The following occupations have negative growth rates and job loss in the Chicago region than in Illinois:
Figure 7. Larger Growth Rates for Chicago MSA, 2020- 2030 Projections
Chicago
Illinois
