Between November 2020 and November 2021, 36 industrial companies moved out of Illinois, taking 1,570 jobs with them, according to migration data collected by MNI, compiler of industrial business profiles for the nation’s nearly 400,000 manufacturers. This is more than double the number of jobs lost in Illinois due to migrating companies in MNI’s previous survey period, which found that 21 companies and 564 jobs left the state between November 2019 and November 2020.
Manufacturing companies leaving Illinois flocked mostly to neighboring states, including 8 companies that moved to Wisconsin and 5 that moved to Indiana. This is consistent with the 5-year migration pattern seen in the map below.
Illinois is currently home to 15,768 manufacturers employing 772,082, according to MNI data. Over the past year, the state of Illinois shed 4,559 jobs or about a half percent of its industrial workforce.
Industrial machinery remains Illinois’ top industry, accounting for 2,759 companies and 114,000 industrial workers. Food processing is a close second, with 1,130 companies employing 101,047.
Over the past twelve months, MNI tracked several industries that reported losses. Companies making internal combustion engines shed 73% of their workforce, while aluminum foundries lost 28%, and cooking equipment shed 36%. Losses were offset by gains in truck & bus bodies (+118%), apparel and accessories )70%); and furniture/fixtures (+44%).
MNI’s city data reveals manufacturing jobs in Chicago inched down a half percent over the year, with the city’s industrial workforce currently numbering 109,491. Rockford lost another half percent and currently account for 17,654 of the state’s manufacturing jobs. Third-ranked Elk Grove Village saw industrial employment drop 4.2% to its current level of 16,819 jobs.
Schaumburg, on the other hand, saw jobs edge up 18.9% to 11,006, while Carol Stream saw manufacturing jobs edge up to 7,217 workers.
For the latest facts and statistics on Illinois’ manufacturing sector, see our infographic or learn more about the state’s companies in our post Top 10 Manufacturing Companies in Illinois.
Looking to contact Illinois manufacturing companies? Learn more about our Illinois data for sales, marketing, business development and research here.
