Employment & Economic Development
Introduction
GCI’s Employment & Economic Development Research Cluster produces research and analysis that informs policies and programs for jobs, training, entrepreneurship, worker cooperatives, innovation districts, commercial revitalization and business recruitment and retention. GCI’s work in this cluster reflects a commitment to inclusive employment and economic development strategies that leads to equitable opportunities for individuals, households and communities, providing for an overall stronger economy. Consistent with GCI’s mission, this interdisciplinary work brings together a variety of partners to analyze and shape the dialogue on employment and economic development, while always recognizing the interrelationships between the social, economic, and environmental conditions of neighborhoods and their relationship to the city as a whole. For more recent research and initiatives, please visit our Economic and Workforce Development Program Landing Page.
Learning and Exchange
In Fall 2013, GCI sponsored the INNOVATE Chicago series, an Employment & Economic Development lecture series, which tapped into some of the newest economic development trends and initiatives in the Chicago metropolitan area. To check out videos from the INNOVATE Chicago series, visit the GCI YouTube Channel.
Cluster Reports
Below is a collection of reports associated with GCI’s Employment & Economic Development Research Cluster.
Summary
This report examines how criminal justice involvement creates persistent barriers to employment in communities like North Lawndale, while highlighting the role of social enterprises in advancing fair chance hiring. Drawing on long-term data, it shows how incarceration drives economic costs and limits opportunity through structural barriers. The findings demonstrate that community-based reentry programs, including NLEN’s Sweet Beginnings, significantly reduce recidivism and generate strong economic returns. The report concludes that combining fair chance hiring with wraparound supports offers a cost-effective strategy to break cycles of incarceration and promote long-term community stability.
Summary
This 2026 data brief from the Great Cities Institute examines youth and young adult joblessness in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, and the United States from 2019–2024. Using unemployment, jobless, and out-of-school jobless rates, the report highlights deep labor market exclusion among young people, particularly Black youth. In Chicago, joblessness remains extremely high with persistent racial disparities and little improvement for Black youth since 2019. Cook County and Illinois rank among the worst nationally for Black youth joblessness. The brief argues that youth unemployment reflects structural labor market conditions and calls for sustained, targeted investment in youth employment programs.
Summary
This data brief examines racial and geographic disparities in youth and young adult joblessness across Chicago, suburban Cook County, Illinois, and the United States between 2019 and 2023 using American Community Survey data. Findings reveal exceptionally high joblessness among Chicago youth, particularly Black youth, alongside persistent disconnection from school and work. In 2023, over 78% of Black teens in Chicago were jobless, and 14.3% were both out of school and unemployed. Joblessness among Black young adults rose again in 2023, widening racial gaps. The brief highlights strong spatial concentration in South and West Side neighborhoods and calls for sustained investment in youth employment programs.
Summary
This article examines racial inequities in the U.S. manufacturing workforce, focusing on disparities in job access and wages. While manufacturing historically offered strong economic opportunities, particularly for Black workers, these advantages declined significantly from 1980 to 2010. The study finds persistent racial and gender wage gaps, even when controlling for key factors. However, recent trends show modest improvements for Black and Latino workers, especially in the Midwest. The article highlights the need for equitable policies and targeted investments to expand opportunity and position manufacturing as a pathway to inclusive economic growth.
Summary
Uneven Recovery and Sustained Inequality after the COVID-19 Recession: Employment for Chicago’s Youth and Young Adults examines youth labor market outcomes after the pandemic. Produced by the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago for the Alternative Schools Network (May 2024), the brief analyzes jobless and out-of-school-and-jobless rates for ages 16–19 and 20–24 across Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, and the U.S. Using American Community Survey data, it finds recovery uneven and racially unequal, with Chicago lagging state and national trends. Joblessness is highly concentrated in certain neighborhoods, reinforcing geographic disparities and underscoring the importance of sustained youth employment programs.
Summary
The U.S. Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) plays a critical role in strengthening the manufacturing workforce by integrating workforce development with business improvement strategies. As manufacturers face persistent labor shortages, intensified by the pandemic, these articles highlight how MEP centers are evolving from traditional skills training toward holistic workplace solutions. By coupling technical assistance with efforts to improve job quality, retention, and organizational practices, MEP supports more resilient firms and a stronger workforce. This approach underscores the connection between competitive businesses and quality jobs, positioning MEP as a key anchor for inclusive and sustainable manufacturing growth.
Summary
This data brief examines how the COVID-19 pandemic affected youth joblessness and disconnection from school and work in Chicago, building on prior research linking concentrated youth joblessness to higher violence rates (Córdova and Wilson, 2017a). The analysis measures changes in jobless and out-of-school-and-jobless rates among young people and assesses the pace of recovery following the pandemic. Using data for youth ages 16–19 and young adults ages 20–24, the brief disaggregates findings by race/ethnicity and sex across Chicago, Illinois, and the United States to better understand how the pandemic reshaped labor market outcomes for young people.
Summary
This article analyzes the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a $790 billion COVID-19 relief effort supporting small businesses. Early phases disproportionately excluded majority Black and Latinx neighborhoods, reflecting longstanding inequities in access to capital. While Phase 3 policy changes improved access for Black communities, disparities persisted for Latinx neighborhoods. The findings demonstrate how reliance on traditional financial systems can reinforce racial and spatial inequalities. The article emphasizes the need for targeted, inclusive policy design from the outset to ensure equitable distribution of resources and address structural barriers embedded in economic systems.
Summary
This article examines how racial and ethnic diversity is framed in economic development proposals, using Amazon’s HQ2 as a case study. Analyzing 70 city submissions, the authors identify patterns in how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are presented. Some proposals avoid meaningful engagement, while others commodify diversity as an economic asset. The findings reveal a disconnect between inclusive rhetoric and persistent systemic inequalities. The article calls for a shift toward equity-centered development strategies that move beyond symbolic gestures to address structural disparities and ensure more inclusive economic outcomes.
Summary
The Mayoral Forum on a New Industrial Vision for Chicago, presented by the Great Cities Institute in February 2023, examines Chicago’s economic transformation and the role of manufacturing in promoting inclusive growth. Once employing more than 668,000 workers in 1950, manufacturing declined to about 63,000 jobs by 2022, contributing to joblessness and neighborhood disinvestment. The forum highlights opportunities in advanced and clean manufacturing, noting thousands of unfilled regional jobs requiring limited formal education. It calls for preserving industrial land, strengthening workforce training, and developing an equitable industrial policy to support economic stability and sustainable development in Chicago.
Summary
These two reports highlight the transformative impact of the Fight for $15 movement and the importance of inclusive economic strategies. Over the past decade, the movement has secured $150 billion in raises for 26 million workers, with $76 billion benefiting workers of color and helping narrow racial inequities. Higher wages have also strengthened local economies, generating billions in annual economic activity and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs. Together, the reports underscore the need for equity-driven policies that move beyond symbolic inclusion to create lasting economic opportunity and meaningful social change.
Summary
This report examines how automation and new technologies are reshaping warehouse work and the logistics industry. Rather than predicting widespread job loss, the study analyzes how technological adoption may change warehouse operations, industry organization, and specific job tasks over the next five to ten years. Based on extensive research and interviews with industry analysts, logistics operators, retailers, and technology providers, the report finds that automation often intensifies work rather than replacing workers. It highlights key industry dynamics and explores how technological change may reshape working conditions in warehousing.
Summary
The Out of School and Out of Work data brief from the Great Cities Institute analyzes youth disconnection from education and employment across Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, and selected U.S. regions using 2017 American Community Survey data. Focusing on ages 16–19 and 20–24, the report identifies nearly 47,500 disconnected youth in Chicago, representing 14.6% of that population. Stark racial and gender disparities are evident, with Black youth—especially young men—experiencing the highest rates. The brief provides comparative data to support policymakers, educators, and workforce organizations developing targeted reengagement and employment strategies.
Summary
This report examines manufacturing’s role in the Chicago region and its potential to expand economic opportunity for Black and Latino communities. It outlines how deindustrialization led to job loss, disinvestment, and racial inequities, while identifying new growth in the sector. The report highlights strong labor demand, with many unfilled jobs requiring only a high school degree or vocational training. Despite these opportunities, disparities in employment and income persist. It calls for inclusive workforce strategies, including education, training, and sector partnerships, to connect underrepresented communities to quality jobs.
Summary
Since 2016, the Great Cities Institute has produced reports examining youth employment challenges in Chicago and Cook County. This report expands that focus to Illinois, offering a detailed analysis of youth joblessness and disconnection across the state. It explores how industrial restructuring, job displacement, and long-term economic shifts have impacted young people’s employment opportunities. Using updated data and county-level case studies, the report highlights persistent disparities and rising poverty. It provides critical insights to inform policies aimed at improving employment outcomes and economic conditions for youth in Illinois.
Summary
This report, The High Costs for Out of School and Jobless Youth in Chicago and Cook County, is the fourth report produced by UIC’s Great Cities Institute (GCI) for the Alternative Schools Network (ASN). This latest report from UIC’s Great Cities Institute updates data on youth joblessness for Cook County from its 2016 report; compiles and calculates longitudinal employment data dating back to 1960; identifies the location of jobs within Cook County in 2014; maps the number of jobs accessible via public transit to people living in Chicago’s Community Areas in 2014; and calculates individuals’ net fiscal contribution on the tax base, by levels of educational attainment.
Summary
This report supplements the 2017 Youth Employment Hearing, “More Jobs, Less Violence: Connecting Youth to a Brighter Future,” hosted by Alternative Schools Network and partners. Held at the Chicago Urban League, the hearing brought together community organizations, service providers, and elected officials to address youth employment challenges. Drawing on testimony from young people and practitioners, the report reinforces the urgent need for expanded mentorship and job opportunities. It highlights how collaborative, community-based efforts can support youth pathways to employment and contribute to safer, more economically stable communities.
Summary
This report prepared for the March 22, 2016 Cook County Board of Commissioners Workforce, Housing and Community Development Committee hearing contains analyses of various employment data (see Appendix C for definitions and Appendix D for data and methodology) for males and females 16 to 24 years old by race/ethnicity from 2005 to 2014, comparing Cook County, Illinois, the U.S. and in several instances, adding comparative data for counties containing the nation’s largest cities: Los Angeles, New York City, and Houston. The report also contains GIS generated maps that illustrate the relationship between employment data and population distribution by race/ethnicity.
Summary
This Youth Employment Data brief analyzes changes in employment across Chicago community areas for ages 16–19 and 20–24, comparing 2005–2009 to 2010–2014. Using employment-to-population ratios, it highlights where youth are connected to or excluded from the labor market. Findings reveal stark geographic disparities, with gains in select North and Near South Side areas, but significant declines across West, Southwest, and Far South Side communities. By mapping changes, the brief underscores how youth employment challenges are concentrated in specific neighborhoods, reflecting broader structural inequities and informing targeted workforce and economic development strategies.
Summary
eThis report contains compilations and calculations of various employment data for males and females 16 to 24 years old by race/ethnicity from 2005 to 2014, comparing Chicago, Illinois, the U.S. and in some instances, adding Los Angeles and New York. Besides an array of figures and tables, the report contains GIS generated maps that illustrate the relationship between employment data and population distribution by race/ethnicity. It is our hope and intention that this report, in combination with the voices of young people, can illustrate the persistence and severity of conditions that have ramifications for our young people and generations to come.
Cluster Projects
Youth Employment & Entrepreneurship Initiative
In 2014, Great Cities Institute convened community stakeholders to launch its Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Initiative, which includes both participatory research and longitudinal analysis connecting employment to other variables including youth wellbeing and violence.
In early 2016, Great Cities Institute prepared reports on joblessness among young people, demonstrating that the problem was chronic, concentrated and comparatively worse. Each of the reports, prepared for the Alternative Schools Network, were released at hearings, made available on the GCI website and described in GCI blogs. The reports generated extensive media attention, including a Sunday New York Times editorial, which in turn led to attention from policy makers, foundations, and groups working directly with young people.
Lost: The Crisis of Jobless and Out of School Teens and Young Adults in Chicago, Illinois and the U.S.
This report contains compilations and calculations of various employment data for males and females 16 to 24 years old by race/ethnicity from 2005 to 2014, comparing Chicago, Illinois, the U.S. and in some instances, adding Los Angeles and New York. Besides an array of figures and tables, the report contains geographic information system generated maps that illustrate the relationship between employment data and population distribution by race/ethnicity. It is our hope and intention that this report, in combination with the voices of young people, can illustrate the persistence and severity of conditions that have ramifications for our young people and generations to come.
A Lost Generation: The Disappearance of Teens and Young Adults from the Job Market in Cook County
This report prepared for the March 22, 2016 Cook County Board of Commissioners Workforce, Housing and Community Development Committee hearing contains analyses of various employment data for males and females 16 to 24 years old by race/ethnicity from 2005 to 2014, comparing Cook County, Illinois, the U.S. and in several instances, adding comparative data for counties containing the nation’s largest cities: Los Angeles, New York City, and Houston. Besides an array of figures and tables, the report contains GIS generated maps that illustrate the relationship between employment data and population distribution by race/ethnicity. The Executive Summary contains highlights of our findings.
A Lost Generation: The Disappearance of Teens and Young Adults from the Job Market in Cook County
Abandoned in their Neighborhoods: Youth Joblessness amidst the Flight of Industry and Opportunity
“More Jobs, Less Violence: Connecting Youth to a Brighter Future,” is the title of the 2017 Youth Employment Hearing sponsored by Alternative Schools Network and held at the Chicago Urban League on January 30, 2017. Other co-sponsors of the hearing include Chicago Area Project, Youth Connection Charter School, Westside Health Authority, Black United Fund of IL, National Youth Advocate Program, La Casa Norte, Lawrence Hall, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Heartland Alliance and Metropolitan Family Services. Each of these groups work directly with young people, providing mentorship and employment related opportunities. Elected officials from federal, state and local government attended to hear the data presented and the voices of young people who testified on their experiences related to employment. This report provides a supplement to the voices of the young people and those that work with them.
Abandoned in their Neighborhoods: Youth Joblessness amidst the Flight of Industry and Opportunity
Strategies to Address Joblessness among Young People
Given the extensive interest generated, GCI has presented the joblessness reports at numerous forums. The causes, conditions, consequences, and solutions have all been of interest. The strategies that we promote to increase access to jobs include matching available jobs to people; bringing anchor employment back into neighborhoods; on the job training; jobs programs; criminal justice reform to allow reentry into the job market; community benefit agreements; worker cooperatives; and creating small business incubators and innovation centers in neighborhoods to build on skills and talents to create and package marketable goods and services.
Youth Employment Data: Employment to Population Ratios for 16 to 19 and 20 to 24 Year Olds by Chicago Community Area, 2005-2009 to 2010-2014
In collaboration with The Chicago Tribune, this analysis by the Great Cities Institute examines recent employment trends by Chicago Community Area to identify which areas have experienced improvement in youth employment conditions. The analysis covers 5 years of employment trends for 16 to 19 and 20 to 24 year olds by Chicago Community Area to show the improving and declining employment conditions.
Fact Sheet #2: Chicago Community Area Economic Hardship Index
This Fact Sheet utilizes indicators of economic hardship in an index to measure economic conditions in Chicago Community Areas. This economic hardship index utilizes multiple and diverse indicators to provide a more comprehensive view of economic hardship than single indicators. Utilizing American Community Survey data, this fact sheet presents economic hardship index values for Chicago Community Areas.
Building Women’s Economic Justice
Women for Economic Justice (WEJ) and GCI began its collaboration with a two-day workshop entitled, Immigrant women and economic development: a strategy to mobilize survivors of violence as political actors to promote systemic change. Held on August 19th and 20th, 2015, the workshop included women who work with or are part of WEJ (a 501 C3) and GCI staff. WEJ has used economic development training as a strategy to enable immigrant women survivors of violence to be economically self-sufficient and also raise consciousness to spur community mobilization. The workshop had 15 participants and the goals were to 1) revisit and refine WEJ’s financial training; 2) brainstorm about cooperative business models and best practices for cooperative development training, and 3) create a research/evaluation agenda and plan for the effectiveness of the financial training for the individual participants and the community at large. GCI continues to work with WEJ to develop an assessment tool for the WEJ financial curriculum, which is already being applied in Philadelphia.
Raising Labor Standards in a Volatile Economy
Economic growth is not what it used to be—especially for workers employed at the bottom of the labor market. The 1990s were the longest and most robust period of economic growth in U.S. history. Yet even though this period brought sustained job growth and progressively tightening labor markets, it coincided with a pronounced erosion of employment standards for workers holding low-wage jobs. The succession of deep recessions and protracted jobless recoveries that followed the 1990s boom have witnessed the further entrenchment of “low-road” employment practices across the economy, and workers in diverse sectors including construction, domestic work, retail, and manufacturing have seen wages stagnant and workplace conditions deteriorate.
The worker center movement in the U.S. has emerged in response to these conditions. Along with their labor union, workforce development, and policy advocacy partners, worker centers are improving wages and working conditions in a range of low-wage industries. With support from the Ford Foundation, the LIFT Fund and New World Foundation, and under the direction of Professor Nik Theodore, researchers at GCI are providing support to the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), and other workers’ rights organizations. Activities include documenting conditions in low-wage industries, evaluating organizational performance, and strengthening enforcement of labor standards.
Why We Overbuild
Analysis of commercial space use in Chicago indicates continual excess square footage hovering above the US average for major cities. Even during the boom years, Chicago’s Loop was flooded with underutilized commercial space, the bulk of which was found not in the new office towers and condo buildings but in the older structures that predated the boom.
In her book From Boom to Bubble: How Finance Built the New Chicago (University of Chicago Press), GCI Fellow, Rachel Weber, Professor of Urban Planning and Policy, investigates the causes and effects of the dizzying building booms that occur when real estate development, financial markets, and city planning all operate in overdrive to rapidly erect new structures and demolish older ones. The book offers an antidote to conventional analyses of building cycles. Most explanations of urban change assume that developers respond mechanically to the preferences of potential occupants whose space needs wax and wane with the business cycle. In contrast, Dr. Weber identifies the three main drivers of this recent bout of commercial overbuilding that are related not to market demand but to the dynamics of supply: first, the new financial instruments that made real estate a more liquid and fungible commodity and helped to deepen the integration of the property sector and global capital markets; second, the practices of real estate brokers and other investment intermediaries who created incentives to “do the deal,” build and acquire property, and shuffle tenants from marginally older buildings into new space; and third, the policies of city governments that simultaneously encouraged new construction with zoning changes and subsidies while also removing “obsolete” properties still standing from earlier waves of overbuilding.