Mayoral Forum on a New Industrial Vision
Executive Summary
The Mayoral Forum on a New Industrial Vision for Chicago examines the city’s long-term economic transformation and argues for revitalizing manufacturing as a cornerstone of inclusive, sustainable growth. Presented by the Great Cities Institute in February 2023, the forum traces Chicago’s evolution from a global manufacturing hub—once employing more than 668,000 manufacturing workers in 1950—to a city that has experienced decades of deindustrialization, with manufacturing employment falling to approximately 63,000 jobs by 2022. This prolonged decline has contributed to persistent joblessness, neighborhood disinvestment, and intergenerational economic inequality, particularly on the South and West Sides.
Despite these losses, the forum emphasizes that manufacturing in Chicago is not dead. Instead, it highlights opportunities within advanced and clean manufacturing sectors that can generate stable, well-paying jobs, especially for Black and Latino residents historically excluded from economic recovery. Data presented show tens of thousands of unfilled manufacturing job openings in the region, many requiring only a high school diploma or vocational training, signaling strong potential for inclusive workforce development.
The forum also underscores the importance of industrial land preservation, succession planning for aging business owners, and coordinated industrial policy. Drawing on lessons from community-based organizations, global manufacturing models, and Chicago’s own Planned Manufacturing Districts, the presentation calls for an industrial strategy centered on equity, workforce training, environmental sustainability, and good corporate citizenship. Ultimately, it advances manufacturing as a pathway toward economic stability, climate resilience, and a just transition for Chicago’s communities.