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Chicago's Shifting Job Market: Biotech Booms, Logistics Faces Instability
Chicago’s job market in fall 2025 shows signs of deceleration, with regional estimates indicating an unemployment rate of 4.3% in September, a modest uptick from 4.1% a year ago, according to the Chicago Federal Reserve’s new real-time labor tracking system. National official government data releases have been disrupted by a federal shutdown, so private-sector measures like ADP and Indeed are now relied upon, both of which reveal slower hiring momentum and some evidence of layoffs. The employment landscape remains diverse, but major industries face challenges as well as pockets of robust growth.
Published on 4 weeks ago
Traditional pillars such as finance, manufacturing, and logistics continue to anchor local employment. Chicago’s logistics sector, particularly food and beverage manufacturing in its vast warehouses, employs about 68,000 workers and is heavily dependent on immigrant labor. Recent rollbacks of programs like Deferred Action for Labor Enforcement and heightened workplace raids have contributed to growing instability and layoffs among these workers. Despite this, food supply and logistics continue to be a critical part of Chicago’s economic infrastructure. Meanwhile, professional service jobs—such as those in finance and healthcare—remain comparatively stable, with office-based roles showing better talent retention than manual and service industry positions.
A standout growth sector is life sciences. The Biotechnology Innovation Organization recently reported that the Illinois biotech industry employs over 93,000 people, paying an average salary of $153,000 and growing at rates far exceeding the state’s broader private sector since 2019. Chicago is emerging as a national hub for biotech, with large pharmaceutical firms like AbbVie, Astellas, and Takeda maintaining major operations, and collaborations with research universities driving innovation. Demand for highly skilled roles—such as clinical researchers and lab technicians—continues to accelerate.
The construction and real estate industries are also showing resilience, as highlighted by the Chicago Build 2025 event, which gathers tens of thousands of professionals to discuss trends such as green infrastructure, modular construction, and digital transformation in the built environment.
Recent months have brought slower hiring, continued layoffs in manufacturing, and shifts in demand for seasonal labor. Persistent labor shortages affect manual, industrial, and service job retention, though hiring in technology, construction, and life sciences is relatively robust. Seasonal construction jobs peak in spring and summer, while logistics and warehouse openings surge before holiday retail periods. Remote and hybrid work continue to influence commuting patterns, reducing daily transit demand and expanding talent pools for employers.
Government initiatives and advocacy groups remain vital in providing employment protections and upskilling opportunities. Partnerships among local universities, networked organizations, and city government help cultivate talent pipelines and foster industry diversification, particularly in emerging tech and biotech sectors.
Listeners should note that recent data gaps limit precise month-to-month statistics, as current figures rely on private measures. Key findings: Chicago’s unemployment rate has edged up, hiring momentum has slowed, but biotechnology and construction remain growth bright spots. Major employers still include AbbVie, Northwestern University, and Archer Daniels Midland in logistics.
This week, notable job openings include a clinical laboratory scientist at a Chicago-based biotech firm, a project manager for commercial construction projects, and a distribution center associate for a large food logistics company.
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