Chaired by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, World Business Chicago drives regional economic growth. WBC collaborates to create jobs, cultivate talent, and put Chicago at the forefront of the global economy.

Photo: “Morning in Chicago” by Frank McNamara

Companies Choose Chicago

for its tremendous talent, central location, and economic strength

Perhaps that’s why The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Chicago among the world’s top 10 most competitive cities for business.

Tremendous Talent

Stellar educational institutions, including two of the world's top business schools, develop a steady stream of talent in Chicago. The city's downtown “Loop” is the largest college town in Illinois.

Chicago's Workforce and Education
145k

college & university degrees conferred annually by the more than 150 Chicago area institutions

Photo: “ThinkChicago Students @ Lollapalooza” by Jake Trussell
#1

Best connected airport in the U.S. according to MIT's Airport Connectivity Quality Index

Central Location

Chicago is at the center of the east-west nexus joining Europe and Asia, and the north-south nexus of NAFTA. Our airport system handles 1,460 daily departures, with non-stop service to 200+ global destinations. Six of the nation's seven Class I railroads connect here, and virtually every major data network in the world intersects here.

Chicago's Central Location
Photo: “Boeing 767-424-ER, United Airlines …” by Konstantin von Wedelstaedt

Most Diversified Economy in the U.S.

Chicago's not a one-industry-town. That diversification keeps the economy strong even during times of trouble for certain sectors.

Chicago's Strong & Diverse Economy
14%

is the largest portion of the workforce that any single industry employs in Chicago

Photo: “Atop of Chicago” by Brian Koprowski

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