Mid-Year Report: Low Unemployment, High Average Salary in DuPage

LISLE, IL – The Choose DuPage Economic Development Alliance has released its 2018 Second Quarter Economic Indicators Report, showing DuPage County remains a powerhouse in the region for economic growth. Mid-year data confirms DuPage County’s unemployment rates dropped to 2.6 percent – the lowest unemployment rate in the region and third lowest in Illinois. DuPage County is setting the standard by illustrating what a strong economy looks like, as well as proving itself to be an ideal location for businesses and job seekers looking to build and grow in a booming community.

2018 Mid-Year Report Highlights

• DuPage County consistently maintains the lowest unemployment rate in the region, falling from 4.2 percent in the first quarter to 2.6 percent; lower than both the State of Illinois (3.5 percent) and United States (3.6 percent).
• DuPage County’s current top job opportunities include positions in computers and mathematics, management, office and administrative support, business and financial operations, sales, transportation and material moving, and healthcare practitioners and technical operation.
• Industrial vacancy rates decreased from 5.5 percent to 5.2 percent; while the office vacancy rate dropped from 15.3 in the first quarter to 14.7 percent.
• The current average annual salary in DuPage County is approximately $61,501 – higher than both the state ($56,136) and national ($53,893) averages.

DuPage County houses nearly 75,000 businesses representing 657,919 jobs across a variety of industries. Employment data indicates current top industries based on employment include healthcare and social assistance (74,715 jobs), professional, scientific and technical services (63,483 jobs), retail trade (62,185 jobs), admin/support/waste management and remediation services (59,337 jobs) and manufacturing (56,652 jobs).

“DuPage County is home to nearly 75,000 businesses that are taking advantage of our highly educated and skilled workforce,” said John Carpenter, president and CEO of Choose DuPage. “Together, these companies represent a variety of diverse industries and employers who are establishing, and advancing their businesses within DuPage County, because of our dynamic business domain. DuPage offers an abundance of high-paying job opportunities—the date proves the time to make a move to DuPage County is now.”

The Choose DuPage 2018 Second Quarter Economic Indicators Report can be viewed in its entirety at www.choosedupage.com.