October 06, 2015
From the intricate architecture down to the deep dish pizza, Chicago is a culturally rich city immersed in the hustle and bustle of the community. With the unemployment rate falling from 7.3 percent to 6.3 percent in June, according to the Chicago Tribune, the job market is heating up and technology is one of the most in-demand professions hiring. Aside from the mega frenzy of food, festivals, and fun that Chicago has to offer, the job market is on the rise providing an economic development shift. With top companies such as Boeing, Walgreens, TransUnion, Pepsi Co., Sears, McDonald’s, and Google, just to name a few, Chicago is home to a wide array of innovation and cutting edge technology. Let’s tap into the state of the Chicago IT market and see what’s booming in the Windy City.
Coming out Strong
In 2013, CIO posted an article, Top 10 States for Tech Jobs Growth, showing the states with the most growth within the tech jobs market; Illinois ranked at #9. “The driving force behind Illinois’ tech job market is Chicago.” Crain’s studied the Chicago market and mentioned, “Chicago was one of the fastest- growing cities for tech jobs coming out of the recession.” With large corporations and numerous startups populating the city, Chicago is moving down the right path. An article from Built in Chicago highlights how the tech ecosystem is shaping the real estate market in Chicago, “In total, digital tech software and services companies have added more than 730,000 new jobs in the country.”
Leaders in Education
Chicago is also respected in the education department with prestigious universities and high-ranked computer science departments. The city is no stranger to IT talent flooding the market. From entry-level to senior-level experience, the Chicago IT market is fighting for the highly sought after, qualified tech talent. Information Security Analyst, Software Developer, and Computer and Information Research Scientist were among The 12 most in-demand jobs in Chicago for 2015 by Crain’s.
Growth in Numbers
So, how strong is the Chicago IT market? Crain’s shared Chicago had the sixth- best growth in tech jobs between 2011 and 2013, and we’re still growing! “The city logged 19.3 percent growth in jobs at tech companies between 2011 and 2013, keeping pace with its 19.7 percent growth between 2010 and 2012, when it was the fifth-fastest growing. That topped such hot spots as Seattle (16.9 percent), Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina (16.8 percent), and Boston (15.7 percent).”
The future looks promising for the IT market in Chicago. As demand for skilled IT professionals increases and competition is fierce, average salaries are also increasing. “Other markets with above-average pay increases included Boston and Chicago, with salaries rising 3 percent year-to-year to $97,288 and $88,866 respectively,” posted by Info World.
What does the forecast for the IT market in Chicago look like? Share your thoughts with us!
Posted By: Anastasia Hoosman