Home to an unrivaled economy, workforce, & quality of life, Chicago is a thriving metropolis, yet a tight-knit community for business & residents. The city's dynamic character is attributed to its people, location and infrastructure, & collaborative business & government community.

Business Climate

Centrally located, Chicago provides easy access to the world. The city has 2,900 daily flights including direct and nonstop service to more than 200 cities worldwide, and serves as a hub for all six Class-One North American railroads, as well as six major U.S. Interstates.

Chicago is a leader in a number of key industries including: Business & Financial Services, Manufacturing, Information Technology, Health Services, and Transportation & Distribution, and is a global leader in options, futures, and derivatives trading.

This combination of market access and economic diversity provides the resources a company needs to flourish. Alongside Chicago's pro-business environment, support services, and unique opportunities for growth, the city also offers a vibrant mix of cultural, educational, and social amenities.

As Big as a Country

$496 billion gross regional product (GRP), larger than countries like Belgium, Sweden and Norway
9.5 million people, 4.3 million employees, and over 260,000 businesses

Global and Diverse Economy

400+ Major Corporate Headquarters
34 S&P 500 companies
27 Fortune 500 HQs, including 7 in the City
9 FT Global 500 HQs
10 Fortune Global 500 HQs

The World's Workforce

Culturally diverse private-sector labor force of 4.3 million people
At least 30 ethnic groups with a population greater than 25,000
1,500 foreign-owned firms in Chicago area

Center of the World

At the center of one of the largest trading areas in the world: the east-west nexus joining the markets of Europe and Asia and the north-south nexus of NAFTA
42% of North America's consumers are less than two days' drive away
Chicago's location, central time zone and non-stop passenger service means that you can fly to nearly any U.S. city and return on the same business day
Less than 10 hours from the major European business centers
A non-stop global gateway to 54 international and 148 domestic business centers, with daily non-stops to Japan, Korea and China
Only U.S. gateway where all six Class-One railroads interchange traffic - CREATE projects are underway to increase freight and passenger rail efficiency in Chicago
Nearly 150 intermodal facilities across the region – 41 in the city (more than half of area real estate is devoted to warehouse/distribution)
Leading advanced telecommunications infrastructure supports interconnected regional, national and international networks