Careers, Jobs and Education Resources for: Rockford, IL
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Rockford is often referred to as "The Forest City" and is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2000 U.S. census, the city was home to 150,115 people, while in the 2006 estimate, it is said to have a population of 155,138, making it the third-largest city in Illinois after Chicago and Aurora. The metropolitan area has 339,178 residents as of the 2000 census. During the latter part of the 20th century Rockford was the second largest city in Illinois. The current mayor is Lawrence J. Morrissey, an independent elected to a four year term in April 2005. (from wikipedia)Illinois Fast facts:
Location, Location, Location...: The most populous and demographically diverse midwestern state. Illinois is often viewed as a microcosm of the United States as it blends small towns and idyllic farms with big cities and industrial might.
Cities: The state capital is Springfield, while its largest cities are Chicago, Aurora, and Rockford. (1-CB)
Behind the Name: Illinois is nicknamed “The Land of Lincoln,” and the “Heart of America.”
A Closer Look: The 21st state admitted to the U.S., Illinois is now an important transportation center with the Port of Chicago connecting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River.
Did You Know? Approximately 66% of the population of Illinois resides in the northeastern corner of the state, primarily within the city of Chicago and the surrounding area.
Illinois Careers and Employment:
Population: 12,901,563 (3.9% increase since 2000) – 50.7% Female, 49.3% Male (2008 U.S. Census Bureau).
Business Environment: Ranked 35th in Forbes Magazine’s “Best States for Business,” 2008.
Top Industries: In terms of paid employees, according to a 2008 U.S. Census Bureau study: (1) manufacturing; (2) health care and social assistance; (3) retail trade; (4) accommodation and food services; and (5) administrative and support and waste management and remediation services.
Taxes: Income Tax, 3.0% and Sales Tax, 6.25% (Federation of Tax Administrators).
Cost of Living: 96.7 in relation to the “National Average” of 100 (Federal Cost of Living Index).
Quality of Life: Ranked 25th of 50 states by CNBC, 2009.
Weather: Average Temperature (In °F) – Jan: 24.58; Apr: 51.68; July: 75.43; Oct: 54.20 (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
K-12: Ranked 31st of 50 states in “Academic Achievement” by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2009.
Illinois Economics:
In General: Though Illinois is one of the most productive farming states in the country, most of the jobs are in the service industry (36%). Other notable sectors include manufacturing (15%), wholesale and retail trade (19%), and government and military services (12%).
Service Industry: Community, business and personal services (private health care, hotels, law firms, repair shops, accounting firms, advertising agencies, engineering companies, law firms) lead the way in the service industry. Finance, insurance and real estate industries rank second in the service category with real estate producing the most income in this group. Chicago is considered the financial capital of the Midwest.
Agriculture: In terms of revenue generated, Illinois’ top five agricultural products are corn for grain, soybeans, hogs, cattle and calves and dairy products.
Manufacturing: Illinois is a leading manufacturing state, with machinery (construction equipment, farm machinery, machine tools) ranking first in this sector. The processed food sector ranks second among manufacturing industries with the chief products being baked goods, breakfast cereals, candy, sausage and spices.
Mining: Coal is the most important mined product of Illinois. In addition, petroleum, crushed stone, sand and gravel provide a substantial contribution to the mining sector.
Did You Know? Illinois is one of the leading producers of corn and soybeans, but it is also the home of the world’s busiest airport and towering skyscrapers.
Illinois Education:
In General: Illinois citizens have a wide variety of educational opportunities available through the state’s system of nine public universities on 12 campuses, 48 community colleges, 97 independent not-for-profit colleges and universities, 35 independent for-profit institutions and 22 out-of-state institutions.
In the Rankings: U.S. News and World Report rankings: National Rankings – University of Chicago (#8), Northwestern University (#12), University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (#40); Liberal Arts Rankings – Wheaton College (#56), Illinois Wesleyan University (#60).
Online Education: There are many accredited online universities offering degrees in the state of Illinois.
A Closer Look: Illinois has one of the largest concentrations of colleges and universities in the Midwest. Many are found within the greater Chicago area, providing students with a wealth of arts, culture and recreational activity to combine with their studies.
Did You Know? Using the criterion established by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, there are eleven “National Universities” in the state.
Sources: In addition to specific citations noted in this “Career Information” section, supplementary source materials include: the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service; Netstate.com; Education-Portal.com; USCollegeSearch.org; and Wikipedia.com.