Occupation Groups: “Deep Dives”

Deep Dive: Management Occupations

Figure 8. Concentration & Growth of Management Occupations, Chicago MSA, 2011-2021

Professional and business service occupations involved in the management of companies and enterprises are covered by the major occupational group 11-0000 (management occupations). Responsibilities in this occupation include strategic or organizational planning and decision making for a company or enterprise. Only one occupation related to green infrastructure is included in this group: construction managers. With a growth rate of 220% and a location quotient of 1.31, the occupation has a strong concentration in the Chicago MSA region.

As shown in Figure 4, over the last decade, this occupational group has grown steadily. The Chicago MSA’s employment growth rate has outpaced both the state and national rates. Notably, there was a high (73%) increase in employment from 2011 levels in 2018, a rapid increase from the steady 40% levels that both Illinois and Chicago had in 2017. While employment change saw a small reduction at the state and national levels in 2020, the industry appears to be steadily growing in all three regions as of 2021.

Figure 9. Employment Change in Management Occupations, All Geographies, 20112021

Chicago MSA IL USA

Employment growth in the Chicago MSA and Illinois has outpaced national rates for construction management occupations. All three geographies had steady growth through 2019. However, the national growth rate has increased by only 50% since 2011, while the Chicago region has seen a 221% increase and Illinois has seen a 157% increase in the same time period.

Figure 10. Employment Change by Occupation, All Geographgraphies 2011-2021

Construction Managers

Figure 11. Projected Employment by Occupation, 2020-2030, All Geographies

The projected change in employment in this sector by 2030 varies across all three geographies. While Illinois is expected to grow by 13.5% in construction managers, exceeding the state’s 11.5% growth, this far outweighs the Chicago MSA’s slow 1.2% growth. Chicago MSA IL USA Construction Managers

The major occupational group 17-0000 (Architecture Figure 12. Concentration & Growth of

Architecture & Engineering and Engineering) involves professional, scientific, and

Occupations, Chicago MSA, 2021

technical services related to architecture, engineering, and related fields. Environmental Engineering Technicians are the only occupations included in the green infrastructure industry. Between 2011 and 2021, this occupation lost 150% of jobs. It has a location quotient of 0.55 and is thus regarded as weak and declining.

Overall, the industry has experienced consistent growth across all three geographies. In 2018, theChicago’s percentage growth from 2011 reached nearly 35%, outpacing both state and national rates. After 2019, all regions experienced declining growth rates, and by 2021, the state level had experienced the greatest decline in the last decade, a -10% regression.

Figure 13. Employment Change in Architecture and Engineering Occupations, All Regions, 2011-2021 Occupations

Chicago MSA IL USA

The Chicago MSA’s occupational growth rate exceeds both the national and state averages. However, the industry sector exhibits volatile trends, with unexpectedly rapid declines across all regional scales between 2015 and 2016. By 2021, all three regions are still showing a downward trend, with Chicago losing -38% and Illinois losing -52% of their jobs between 2011 and the USA losing -23%. This indicates employment in these occupations are declining across all regions.

Figure 14. Employment Change by Occupation, All Geographies, 2011-2021

Environmental Engineering Technicians

Figure 15. Projected Employment for Architecture and Engineering by Occupation, 2020-2030

While the projected growth by 2030 varies per region, Chicago is the only level in which there is an expected decline of -1.3% of jobs within the occupations related to green infrastructure for this industry. Illinois, on the other hand, is expected to see a 4.1% increase, trailing the national rate of 7.8%.

Chicago MSA IL USA

The major occupational group 19-0000 (Life, Physical, and Social Sciences) includes a Figure 16. Concentration & Growth of variety of occupations including biological scientists,

Life/Physical/Social Science

Occupations, Chicago MSA, 2021 clinical psychologists, economists, and social science researchers. Within the green infrastructure industry, only one occupation within this group was identified: forest and conservation technicians. Common activities associated with this occupation include providing technical assistance in the conservation of soil, water, forest, or natural resources; analyzing data; and training other workers in relevant fieldwork.

This is another industry with only one occupation that is considered to share green infrastructurerelated work and includes Forest and Conservation Technicians. With a growth rate of 371%, this occupation had one of the highest growth rates of the 30 core occupations. It also has the second lowest location quotient on the core list, at 0.37.

Overall, the industry grew steadily between 2011 and 2020. The Chicago MSA growth rate increased by more than 51% from 2011 to 2018 and remained stable by 2021. While the state is has undergone a smaller percent change since 2011, it steadily increased by 27% by 2021. The national rate is slightly slowing to a growth of only 18% by 2021.

Figure 17. Employment Change in Life, Physical, Social Science Occupations, All Geographies, 2011-2021

Chicago MSA IL USA

For forest and conservation technicians, the single occupation in this occupational group considered to be part of green infrastructure work, the growth rates for the Chicago MSA and Illinois have far outpaced national rates over the last decade. By 2021, Chicago’s employment had increased by 371%, more than doubling Illinois’ rate of around 167%.

Figure 18. Employment Change by Occupation, All Geographies, 2011-2021

Forest and Conservation Technicians

By 2030, the number of jobs in this occupational group in the Chicago MSA is projected to be 3.9% lower than in 2021. This decline could be due to the steep increase in jobs in this occupational group taking place in the late 2010’s. Conversely growth in number of jobs in this group is expected on a state and national level during this time period with Illinois’ projected growth rate at 7.6% and the national growth rate at an estimated 12.6%. Chicago MSA IL USA

Figure 19. Projected Employment by Occupation, 2020-2030, All

The major occupational group 37-0000 (Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance) includes four occupations that perform green infrastructure work: such as landscaping and groundskeeping workers, pesticide handlers, tree trimmers and pruners, and first-line supervisors for the aforementioned occupations. These jobs entail maintaining property grounds with hand or power tools, such as mowing, trimming, digging, and irrigation installation.

This industry is made up of four occupations that all do green infrastructure work. First-Figure 20. Concentration & Growth of Building and

Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations, Chicago MSA, 2021 Line Supervisors of Landscaping/Lawn Service/Groundskeeping Workers saw an increase of 106% employment from 2011 to 2021; with a location quotient of 1.13 the occupation is strong and advancing. Tree trimmers and pruners, on the other hand, experienced a negative growth of -66% from 2011 to 2012; with a location of 0.24 it is weak and declining.

First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Services, and Groundskeeping Workers Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Tree Trimmers and Pruners

In terms of employment change over the last decade, this occupational group has lagged other groups in the green infrastructure industry. While the national Figure 21. Employment Change in Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintentance Occupations, All change in employment levels Geographies, 2011-2021 was slow, job losses did not occur until 2019, when the COVID-19 pandemic began to impact the country’s economy. However, at the local level, the Chicago MSA experienced a 10% drop in employment in 2015. By 2018, employment change had accelerated to 8% growth from 2011, outpacing Chicago MSA IL USA both Illinois and national growth The Landscape of Green Infrastructure in Chicago rates by 2021. 44

On a national scale, individual occupations within this group closely parallel each other’s growth rates, with small increases and declines that remain within a 0-10% employment change from 2011. Local and state growth rates have been more volatile: from 2011 to 2020, for example, tree trimmers and pruners saw an employment decline of nearly -80%, while at the national level the number of jobs in this occupation grew by around 35% from 2011. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers are the occupation with the highest growth in Chicago by 2021. The remaining occupations in the Chicago MSA continue to grow, indicating stable employment levels by 2021.

Figure 21. Employment Change by Occupation, 2011-2021

First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Services, and Groundskeeping Workers Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators Tree Trimmers and Pruners

All geographies are expected to see positive growth in each occupation within this group by 2030. While the Chicago MSA growth rate is not expected to exceed state or national levels, it is still encouraging because it indicates slower but overall stable growth. With a growth rate of 7.9%, Illinois outperforms the national projected rate for tree trimmers and pruners.

Figure 22. Projected Employment by Occupation, 2020-2030, All Geographies

1st-Line Spryers/Mgrs/Lnscp/ Lawn Service Landscaping & Groundskeeping Workers Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers & Applicators Tree Trimmers & Pruners

Chicago MSA IL USA

Occupational group 45-0000 (Fishing, Farming, and Forestry) consists of farmworkers, laborers, and forest and conservation workers, which includes three “green infrastructure” occupations: crop, nursery and greenhouse farmworkers and laborers, forest and conservation workers, and first-line supervisors of people of people conducting such works. These jobs entail caring for forests, woodlands, and other rangelands by battling pests and diseases and constructing structures to control water or erosion. Planting and harvesting crops, tilling land, packing products, and constructing necessary trellises, fences, and farm buildings are all additional activities.

Figure 23. Concentration & Growth of Fishing, Farming, and Forestry Occupations, Chicago MSA, 2021

Figure 24. Employment Change, Fishing, Farming, and Forestry Occupations, All Geographies 2011-2021

The two occupations within the Fishing/Farming/ Forestry sector are split between weak and advancing and strong and declining. First Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing and Forestry Workers lost over -16% of jobs from 2011 and has one of the lowest location quotients of the overall list with a rate of 0.13. Farmworkers

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing and Forestry Workers Farmworkers and Laborers and Laborers had a growth of 194% from 2011 employment levels but only has a location quotient of 0.18 and is therefore as weak and advancing.

From 2011 to 2021, the Chicago MSA’s growth rate in number of jobs outpaced the state and national averages. Although Chicago MSA’s growth rates saw a steady decline by 2016 followed by another steep decline, the area’s growth rate remained positive overall and exceeded state and

Chicago MSA IL USA national trends. By 2021, the employment growth for Chicago MSA far outpaced the state and national rates, with a growth of 71%.

Looking at individual occupations within this group in the Chicago MSA, only crop, nursery and greenhouse farmworkers and laborers experienced significant growth rates in employment from 2011 to 2021. In 2021, the Chicago MSA’s employment percent change since 2011 in this occupation was 194%, far exceeding state and national rates. While this does not imply there are more farmworker jobs in the Chicago MSA region than other parts of the country, it does indicate that crop, nursery, and greenhouse work is becoming more available in the city.

Figure 25. Employment Change by Occupation, All Geographies, 2011-2021

Farmworkers and Laborers, Crops, Nursery and Greenhouse First-Line Supervisors of Fishing, Farming, and Forestry Workers Forest Conservation Workers

Significant growth in in farming, fishing and forestry is not expected, with job loss or stagnation occurring in all green infrastructure occupations in the Chicago MSA. Forest and conservation workers are project to decrease across geographies. The Chicago MSA will also lose farmworkers and laborers jobs , while Illinois and national rates continue to rise.

Figure 26: Projected Employment by Occupation by 2030, All Geographies

The major occupational group 47-0000 (Construction and Extraction) includes a range of specialty trade contractors and construction workers. Within the 30-core green infrastructure occupation list identified by Jobs for the Future, this group contains the largest number of occupations. Paving/Surfacing/Tamping Equipment Operators is a strong and growing industry in the Chicago MSA region, with a growth rate of 174.6% by 2021 and a high location quotient of 1.55. Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners, however, had the lowest LQ experienced the greatest decline in this group, with a negative growth of -38%. Construction Laborers saw a -27% decline

Figure 27. Concentration & Growth of Construction and Extraction Occupations, Chicago MSA, 2021

Cement Masons and Concreet Finishers Construction and Building Inspectors Construction Laborers Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas First Line Supervisors of Construction Trades in jobs, but still have a high Helpers -- Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters concentration of 20,550 Helpers -- Roofers jobs in 2021.There are also a handful of coccupations that Figure 28. Employment Change, Construction and

Extraction Occupations, All Geographies, 2011-2021

are weak but advancing. While this occupational group as a whole has grown steadily and consistently on a national scale, local and state employment change has been regressive over the last decade, with the state losing 12% of employment and Chicago losing 18%. In 2017, employment in Chicago increased by 17% compared to 2011 employment levels. However, by 2021, growth begins to slow and reaches a low of 5%, while the national rate appears to stabilize around 18%. By 2021, employment across all three regions continues to trend downwards.

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operatores Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Pipelayers Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Roofers Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners

On a national level, about half of construction and extraction occupations related to green infrastructure have experienced steady growth in employment levels between 2011 and 2021 while the other half underwent a steady decline. Roofers (helpers) are the occupation with the greatest employment decline by 2021. These patterns were not necessarily reflected on the local and state level. In the Chicago MSA, Pipelayers/plumbers/pipefitters/steamfitters (helpers) saw the greatest decline in employment between 2011 and 2021, reaching -86% in 2016. . Paving/ surfacing/tamping equipment operators are the leading occupation for Chicago MSA with a growth of 175% from 2011 to 2021.

Figure 3. Employment Change by Occupation, All Geographies, 2011-2021

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers Construction and Building Inspectors Construction Laborers Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas First Line Supervisors of Construction Trades Helpers -- Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Helpers -- Roofers Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators Pipelayers Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Roofers Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners

While Chicago MSA employment projections do not exceed state or national rates, Illinois is expected to outpace national growth rates for several occupations. This demonstrates that the state has a strong hold on this industry and provides an opportunity to expand these jobs locally while also expanding work specifically for green infrastructure.

Figure 4. Projected Employment by Occupation, 2020-2030, All regions

Chicago MSA IL USA

Three occupations in this major occupational group are involved in green infrastructure work. These jobs require a range of skills, including regulating and controlling electric and gas-powered devices, meters, and valves; pipe fitting; HVAC maintenance; insulating; welding; and carpentry.

Figure 29. Concentration & Growth of Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations, Chicago MSA, 2021

Control and Valve Installation and Repairers Helpers -- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair General Maintenance and Repair Worker With three occupations in this group, this occupation group has relatively low location quotients and varying levels of growth. Helpers for Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers are weak and declining, with a -49% job loss from 2011 and a location quotient of 0.42. General maintenance and repair workers grew 55% by 2021 and have a location quotient of 1.07, indicating that the share of these occupations in the Chicago MSA region is higher than the state average. Nonetheless, Maintenance and Repair workers have one of the highest concentrations of jobs, with 45,690 jobs in 2021.

The industry employment level has expanded steadily on all three geographies. When compared to 2011, employment increased by 45% in 2018, far outpacing national and state rates. However, by 2021, employment growth in the Chicago MSA has slowed, even though employment has changed at a faster rate than at the state and national levels.

Figure 30. Employment Change in Installation, Maintenance and Repair Occupations, All Geographies, All Regions, 2011-2021

Chicago MSA IL USA

The occupation with the greatest employment change across all geographies is control and valve installers and repairers. Employment growth has been exceptional in the Chicago MSA, where employment increased by more than 72% from 2011 to 2021. By 2021, all occupations in this industry sector had been impacted by collective declines in growth rates, with installation, maintenance, and repair workers (helpers) losing the most jobs since 2011. This raises the question of whether the pandemic’s effects, including unemployment, has forced contractors to prioritize senior staff or reduce hiring of helpers while work is still scarce.

Figure 31. Employment Change by Occupation, All Geographies, 2011-2021

Figure 32. Projected Employment by Occupation, 2020-2030, All Geographies

Control and Valve Installation and Repairers Helpers -- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair General Maintenance and Repair Workers

Projections for 2030 display Chicago MSA growth rates are not expected to exceed national or state levels and in fact see a decline in employment from 2021 for control and valve installers and maintenance helpers. However, Illinois once again outperforms national projections in certain occupations, such as maintenance workers and helpers.

Green infrastructure work is represented by three occupations in the major occupational group 51-0000 (Production). These jobs require a wide range of abilities, such as fabricating, modifying, and repairing machine tools and industrial machines. These jobs also require the use of control boards to operate large process systems and machines.

Figure 33. Concentration & Growth of Production Occupations, Chicago MSA, 2021

Three occupations in this sector share green infrastructure work. While machinists have the highest concentration of jobs in this sector, it has a -2% growth rate by 2021 and is classified as strong but declining. This is significant because this occupation has a location quotient of 1.4, indicating that it is an exporter for the Chicago MSA region, and losing a large industry without proper replacement or job transitioning may have a greater impact on the local economy and employment.

Machinists Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System State and national employment growth has been

Welders, Cutterers, Solderers, and Brazers slow but steady since 2011, until the pandemic began in 2019. The Chicago MSA’s employment change decreased by 4% from 2011 to 2015, but increased by more than 26% in 2017. The pandemic negatively affected employment in all three geographies, though the Chicago MSA maintained the highest growth rate.

Figure 34. Employment Change in Production Occupations, All Geographies, 2011-2021

Chicago MSA IL USA

Nationally, occupations in this industry have been steadily growing, with the exception of machinists, who saw a decrease in employment in 2019 that continued through 2021. For the Chicago MSA and Illinois, employment change has been erratic, with periods of rapid growth followed by short and sharp declines. By 2021,machinist occupations in Illinois declined by -20%, while the Chicago MSA rate dropped by -3% after employment had reached a high growth of 70% in 2018. Notably, the other two occupations are steadily increasing in both the Chicago MSA and Illinois, and employment for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators has increased by 90% in Chicago by 2021.

Figure 35. Employment Change by Occupation, All Geographies, 2011-2021

Machinists Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Welders, Cutterers, Solderers, and Brazers

Projected employment for these occupations includes steady growth, indicating that employment may remain stable even in the absence of sudden increases in new jobs. However, the Chicago MSA is expected to lose 8.1% of its water/waste treat plant/system operators jobs between now and 2030.

Figure 36. Projected Employment by Occupation, 2020-2030, All Geographies

Chicago MSA IL USA

Green infrastructure work is represented by three occupations in the major occupational group 53-0000. These occupations center around the manual movement of freight, stock, general labor, and the operation of industrial trucks or tractors to move material between sites and locations

Figure 37. Concentration & Growth of Transporation and Materials Moving Occupations, Chicago MSA, 2021

Occupations in this industry have high concentrations of jobs and the highest location quotient, with only two occupations identified to share GI-IMI work. Laborers and Freight/Stock/Material Movers have grown 98% to 152,330 jobs by 2021. It is a strong and advancing exporter for the Chicago MSA region, with a location quotient of 1.86.

Across all three geographies, employment in this occupational group increased steadily until a surge from 2017 to 2019. The Chicago MSA outperformed both

Freight/Stock/Material Movers Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator the state and national averages, growing by nearly 70% from 2011 to 2021. During this same period, national and state employment growth for this group ranged from 40 to 45%. By 2021, employment growth had slowed but remained stable in all three regions.

Figure 38. Employment Change in Transportation and Materials Moving, All Geographies, 2011-2021

Chicago MSA IL USA

While data for the Chicago MSA and Illinois for pump operators was not reported in 2016, this occupation’s employment level declined in all regions over the last decade. By 2021, Illinois had lost 62% of its 2011 employment level; the Chicago MSA had lost 33% in 2020; and the national loss had remained consistent at around 13% in 2021. The remaining two occupations have seen both sudden declines and job growth in both the State an MSA levels, but by 2021 they were steadily growing in line with national levels.

Figure 39. Employment Change by Occupation, All Geopgraphies, 2011-2021

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator Freight/Stock/Material Movers Pump Operators, Except Welhead Pumpers

The Chicago MSA is expected to lose nearly 16.9% of industrial truck and tractor operator jobs by 2030, while Illinois is expected to gain 17% of jobs in the same occupation, far exceeding national levels. While job growth is welcome, Illinois must prioritize its transition to sustainable and energyefficient transportation modes, as stated in recently published plans. Furthermore, job losses should be offset by increases in green jobs to ensure worker stability.

Figure 40. Projected Employment by Occupation, 2020-2030, All Geographies

Chicago MSA IL USA

The green infrastructure industry is growing in Chicago, with stakeholders including government organizations, workforce development groups, and employers actively participating in its evolution. Notably, tfhe Transportation and Materials Moving sector has the highest concentration of jobs, followed by Installation/Maintenance/Repair and Building/Grounds Cleaning/Maintenance.

This report lays out the landscape of green infrastructure through an examination of the green infrastructure industry’s current workforce, sub-sectors and stakeholders within this workforce, and government support of green infrastructure (Section I: Green Infrastructure Up Close). It finds a diverse and growing industry with distinct differences and similarities to related industries such as landscaping. Based on our examination of this landscape, Section II: Challenges and Strategies of this report identifies challenges faced within the green industry, including challenges with hiring practices, funding and job procurement, and maintenance and installation. It also includes strategies to address these challenges, including enhancement of hiring and training practices, promotion of equity in workforce development, and the continuation of research. Section III: Data Analysis examines data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on sub-sectors and occupations related to the green infrastructure industry and discovers that the region contains several occupations that have grown their employment steadily or rapidly, while others are declining and projected to lose jobs by 2030. Understanding these changes is critical for properly planning for job transitions and the threat of unemployment in these occupations.

To help the region move forward with these strategies, the Voorhees Center will disseminate this report, engage in additional research based on the gaps found in this report, and offer technical assistance. Technical assistance could include working with job platform providers and employers to ensure websites and job postings reach and resonate with target appropriate audiences; and providing resources on grant information to small businesses.