CMAP’s recent manufacturing cluster drill-down report found that metropolitan Chicago’s manufacturers are in the midst of a strong resurgence, and they are well-positioned to compete in today’s globalized world.  However, manufacturers face significant workforce challenges , including an aging workforce, difficulty recruiting new workers, and the need to upgrade workers’ skills adapt... Read More

More so than most other segments of economy, manufacturing relies on an efficient transportation system for complex supply chain moves and access to new markets. Prior CMAP Policy Updates discussed key workforce and innovation issues affecting our region’s manufacturing cluster. This blog explores infrastructure findings from CMAP’s manufacturing cluster drill-down report , including... Read More

While annual permitted units are still at historic lows in northeastern Illinois, the region saw increases from post-recession lows in 2012. In some cases, annual permitted units in the region matched 2008 levels. There have also been unique shifts in the location and type of development -- in particular, suburban areas garnered a substantially larger share of the region’s multifamily... Read More

Today, March 22, marks an important deadline for the Illinois General Assembly.  Bills that have not been voted out of committee will now require a deadline extension in order to advance through the legislative process. CMAP has been tracking over 350 bills, but only a handful of these have moved forward out of committee. Other significant bills, including pension reform legislation,... Read More

Metropolitan Chicago’s manufacturing cluster employs one in eight workers in the region.  Although manufacturers lost one-third of their workforce between 2001 and 2011, productivity actually increased over that same period.  These seemingly contradictory trends reveal how dramatically the region’s manufacturing cluster has changed in recent years.  CMAP’s new manufacturing... Read More