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Adult Outcomes: Employment rate by Ward — Chicago

Map and ranking of Adult Outcomes: Employment rate across Chicago's 50 wards. Highest: Ward 19 (81.9%). Lowest: Ward 4 (69.9%). Chicago avg: 74.4%. Data: 2014–2015.

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Metric

Adult Outcomes: Employment rate · all 50 Chicago wards · 2014–15

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Year

Opportunity Atlas data are available only for 2014–2015.

Citywide overview

All wards

Chicago citywide · Adult Outcomes: Employment rate 74.4%

Highest ward Ward 19: 81.9%

Lowest ward Ward 4: 69.9%

Adult Outcomes: Employment rate

Avg 74%

70%76%82%

Highest ward Ward 19

81.9%

Chicago avg

74.4%

Lowest ward Ward 4

69.9%

Note: These measures follow children born 1978–1983 who grew up in each ward. Adult outcomes were measured in 2014 and 2015, when they were ages 31–37. Income amounts are adjusted for inflation and shown in 2024 dollars; they describe income measured in 2014–2015. Household income includes a spouse’s income; individual income excludes it. Incarceration was measured on April 1, 2010.

Universe: Children born 1978–1983 who grew up in each mapped area · Geography: Census tract · Source: IRS tax-return and Census data compiled by Opportunity Insights for The Opportunity Atlas (2018)

Ward distribution Hover or click any dot to inspect

Min 70% 25th pct 73% Median 74% 75th pct 76% Max 82%

Ward ranking: Adult Outcomes: Employment rate

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#1	Ward 19	Matthew J. O’Shea	81.9%	+7.5 pts
#2	Ward 41	Anthony Napolitano	81.9%	+7.5 pts
#3	Ward 13	Marty Quinn	79.8%	+5.4 pts
#4	Ward 38	Nicholas Sposato	78.5%	+4.1 pts
#5	Ward 45	James M. Gardiner	78.1%	+3.7 pts
#6	Ward 18	Derrick G. Curtis	78%	+3.6 pts
#7	Ward 11	Nicole T. Lee	77.7%	+3.3 pts
#8	Ward 23	Silvana Tabares	77.5%	+3.1 pts
#9	Ward 43	Timmy Knudsen	76.9%	+2.5 pts
#10	Ward 39	Samantha Nugent	76.7%	+2.3 pts
#11	Ward 29	Chris Taliaferro	76.6%	+2.2 pts
#12	Ward 40	Andre Vasquez, Jr.	76.4%	+2 pts
#13	Ward 47	Matthew J. Martin	76.2%	+1.8 pts
#14	Ward 10	Peter Chico	75.6%	+1.2 pts
#15	Ward 26	Jessica Fuentes	75.6%	+1.2 pts
#16	Ward 44	Bennett R. Lawson	75.5%	+1.1 pts
#17	Ward 12	Julia M. Ramirez	75.4%	+1 pts
#18	Ward 31	Felix Cardona, Jr.	75.3%	+0.9 pts
#19	Ward 36	Gilbert Villegas	75.2%	+0.8 pts
#20	Ward 35	Anthony Quezada	75.2%	+0.8 pts
#21	Ward 14	Jeylu B. Gutierrez	75.1%	+0.7 pts
#22	Ward 37	Emma Mitts	75%	+0.6 pts
#23	Ward 33	Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez	74.8%	+0.4 pts
#24	Ward 21	Ronnie L. Mosley	74.4%	+0 pts
#25	Ward 5	Desmon C. Yancy	74.3%	-0.1 pts
#26	Ward 1	Daniel La Spata	74.2%	-0.2 pts
#27	Ward 32	Scott Waguespack	74.2%	-0.2 pts
#28	Ward 8	Michelle Harris	73.8%	-0.6 pts
#29	Ward 49	Maria E. Hadden	73.8%	-0.6 pts
#30	Ward 7	Gregory Mitchell	73.8%	-0.6 pts
#31	Ward 22	Michael D. Rodriguez	73.7%	-0.6 pts
#32	Ward 34	William Conway	73.7%	-0.7 pts
#33	Ward 30	Ruth Cruz	73.5%	-0.9 pts
#34	Ward 9	Anthony Beale	73.1%	-1.3 pts
#35	Ward 15	Raymond Lopez	73%	-1.4 pts
#36	Ward 50	Debra Silverstein	72.9%	-1.5 pts
#37	Ward 6	William E. Hall	72.8%	-1.6 pts
#38	Ward 2	Brian Hopkins	72.7%	-1.7 pts
#39	Ward 17	David Moore	72.5%	-1.8 pts
#40	Ward 25	Byron Sigcho Lopez	72.5%	-1.9 pts
#41	Ward 48	Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth	72.4%	-2 pts
#42	Ward 46	Angela Clay	72.1%	-2.3 pts
#43	Ward 24	Monique L. Scott	72.1%	-2.3 pts
#44	Ward 42	Brendan Reilly	71.9%	-2.5 pts
#45	Ward 27	Walter Redmond Burnett	71.5%	-2.9 pts
#46	Ward 28	Jason C. Ervin	71.2%	-3.2 pts
#47	Ward 20	Jeanette B. Taylor	70.6%	-3.8 pts
#48	Ward 3	Pat Dowell	70.6%	-3.8 pts
#49	Ward 16	Stephanie D. Coleman	70.4%	-4 pts
#50	Ward 4	Lamont J. Robinson	69.9%	-4.5 pts

All 381 ward maps

Basic Demographics

• Hispanic Residents
• White Residents
• Black Residents
• Asian Residents
• Other Race/Ethnicity Residents
• Less Than High School
• High School or GED
• Some College
• Bachelor's Degree
• Graduate Degree
• Bachelor's Degree or Higher
• Population
• Total Households
• Population Density
• Veteran (% of civilian adults 18+)
• Veteran Status: Post-9/11 Gulf War Era (% of veterans)
• Veteran Status: Pre-9/11 Gulf War Era Only (% of veterans)
• Veteran Status: Vietnam Era (% of veterans)
• Veteran Status: Korean War (% of veterans)
• Veteran Status: Other / Peacetime Service (% of veterans)

Households & Families

• Average Household Size
• Never-Married Residents
• Married Residents
• Separated Residents
• Divorced Residents
• Widowed Residents
• Married-Couple Households
• Unmarried-Couple Households
• One-Person Households
• Other Household Types
• Children in Married-Couple Households
• Children in Unmarried-Couple Households
• Children in Single-Mother Households
• Children in Single-Father Households

Immigration

• U.S.-Born Residents
• Foreign-Born Residents (% of all residents)
• Foreign-Born Naturalized Citizens (% of all residents)
• Foreign-Born Noncitizens (% of all residents)

Country of Birth

• Mexico (% of all residents)
• China / Hong Kong (% of all residents)
• India (% of all residents)
• Poland (% of all residents)
• Philippines (% of all residents)
• Ecuador (% of all residents)
• Guatemala (% of all residents)
• Nigeria (% of all residents)
• Venezuela (% of all residents)
• Ukraine (% of all residents)
• Colombia (% of all residents)
• Korea (% of all residents)
• Vietnam (% of all residents)
• Pakistan (% of all residents)
• Russia (% of all residents)
• Honduras (% of all residents)
• Peru (% of all residents)
• Bosnia (% of all residents)
• Ghana (% of all residents)
• France (% of all residents)
• Iraq (% of all residents)
• Ethiopia (% of all residents)
• Burma (% of all residents)
• Malaysia (% of all residents)

Language

• Speak Only English at Home
• Speak a Language Other Than English at Home
• Speak Spanish at Home
• Speak French, Haitian, or Cajun at Home
• Speak German or Other West Germanic at Home
• Speak Russian, Polish, or Other Slavic at Home
• Speak Other Indo-European Language at Home
• Speak Korean at Home
• Speak Chinese at Home (incl. Mandarin, Cantonese)
• Speak Vietnamese at Home
• Speak Tagalog at Home (incl. Filipino)
• Speak Other Asian or Pacific Island Language at Home
• Speak Arabic at Home
• Speak Other Languages at Home
• Native English Speaker or Speaks English Very Well
• Combined Speaks English Less Than Very Well (% of residents age 5+)
• Speaks English Well (% of residents age 5+)
• Speaks English Not Well (% of residents age 5+)
• Does Not Speak English (% of residents age 5+)

Household Income

• Average Household Income
• Per Capita Income
• 10th Percentile Household Income
• 25th Percentile Household Income
• Median Household Income
• 75th Percentile Household Income
• 90th Percentile Household Income

Poverty

• Below the Poverty Line
• Below 200% of the Poverty Line
• Below 50% of the Poverty Line

Material Hardship

• Food Insecurity
• Housing Insecurity
• Transportation Barriers
• Threatened Utility Shutoff

Employment

• 25-54 Year Old Employment Status: In the Labor Force
• 25-54 Year Old Employment Status: Employed
• 25-54 Year Old Employment Status: Unemployed
• 25-54 Year Old Employment Status: Unemployment Rate (% of the civilian labor force)
• 25-54 Year Old Employment Status: Not in the Labor Force

Occupation

• Occupation: Management, Business, Science & Arts
• Occupation: Management Occupations
• Occupation: Business & Financial Operations
• Occupation: Computer & Mathematical
• Occupation: Architecture & Engineering
• Occupation: Life, Physical & Social Science
• Occupation: Community & Social Service
• Occupation: Legal Occupations
• Occupation: Education, Training & Library
• Occupation: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media
• Occupation: Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners
• Occupation: Health Technologists & Technicians
• Occupation: Service
• Occupation: Healthcare Support
• Occupation: Protective Service
• Occupation: Food Preparation & Serving
• Occupation: Building & Grounds Cleaning & Maintenance
• Occupation: Personal Care & Service
• Occupation: Sales & Office
• Occupation: Sales & Related
• Occupation: Office & Administrative Support
• Occupation: Natural Resources, Construction & Maintenance
• Occupation: Farming, Fishing & Forestry
• Occupation: Construction & Extraction
• Occupation: Installation, Maintenance & Repair
• Occupation: Production, Transportation & Material Moving
• Occupation: Production Occupations
• Occupation: Transportation Occupations
• Occupation: Material Moving Occupations

Industry

• Industry: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Mining
• Industry: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting
• Industry: Mining, Quarrying & Oil and Gas Extraction
• Industry: Construction
• Industry: Manufacturing
• Industry: Wholesale Trade
• Industry: Retail Trade
• Industry: Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities
• Industry: Transportation & Warehousing
• Industry: Utilities
• Industry: Information
• Industry: Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
• Industry: Finance & Insurance
• Industry: Real Estate & Rental and Leasing
• Industry: Professional, Scientific & Management Services
• Industry: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
• Industry: Management of Companies & Enterprises
• Industry: Administrative, Support & Waste Management Services
• Industry: Education, Health Care & Social Assistance
• Industry: Educational Services
• Industry: Health Care & Social Assistance
• Industry: Arts, Entertainment, Recreation & Food Services
• Industry: Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
• Industry: Accommodation & Food Services
• Industry: Other Services
• Industry: Public Administration

Work & Earnings

• Average Earnings of Full-Time, Year-Round Workers
• Private Company Employee
• Self-Employed Workers
• Nonprofit Employees
• Government Employees
• Unpaid Family Worker
• Full-Time, Year-Round
• Part-Time or Part-Year
• Average FT Earnings
• 10th Percentile FT Earnings
• 25th Percentile FT Earnings
• Median FT Earnings
• 75th Percentile FT Earnings
• 90th Percentile FT Earnings
• Average PT Earnings
• 10th Percentile PT Earnings
• 25th Percentile PT Earnings
• Median PT Earnings
• 75th Percentile PT Earnings
• 90th Percentile PT Earnings
• Average Earnings
• 10th Percentile Earnings
• 25th Percentile Earnings
• Median Earnings
• 75th Percentile Earnings
• 90th Percentile Earnings

Economic Mobility

• Adult Outcomes: Household income at age 35
• Adult Outcomes: Household income rank (percentile)
• Adult Outcomes: Share reaching the top 20% of household income
• Adult Outcomes: Individual income at age 35
• Adult Outcomes: Fraction married
• Adult Outcomes: Employment rate
• Adult Outcomes: Incarceration rate
• Lower-Income Families: Household income at age 35
• Lower-Income Families: Household income rank (percentile)
• Lower-Income Families: Share reaching the top 20% of household income
• Lower-Income Families: Individual income at age 35
• Geographic Mobility: Stayed in the greater Chicago area
• Geographic Mobility: Stayed in the same small immediate neighborhood area

Local Jobs and Businesses

• Firm Size: Fewer Than 50 Employees
• All Jobs Located in Ward
• Jobs Held by Residents of the Same Ward
• Jobs Held by Residents of Another Ward
• Employed Residents Working in Their Own Ward
• Employed Residents Working Outside Their Ward

Industry of Local Jobs

• Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Mining
• Mining, Quarrying & Oil and Gas Extraction
• Construction
• Manufacturing
• Wholesale Trade
• Retail Trade
• Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities
• Utilities
• Transportation & Warehousing
• Information
• Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
• Finance & Insurance
• Real Estate & Rental and Leasing
• Professional, Scientific & Management Services
• Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
• Management of Companies & Enterprises
• Administrative, Support & Waste Management Services
• Education, Health Care & Social Assistance
• Educational Services
• Health Care & Social Assistance
• Arts, Entertainment, Recreation & Food Services
• Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
• Accommodation & Food Services
• Other Services
• Public Administration

Students

• Enrolled in K-12 (% of all residents)
• Public School (% of K–12 enrollees)
• Private School (% of K–12 enrollees)
• Enrolled in College (% of all residents)
• Public College or University (% of college enrollees)
• Private College or University (% of college enrollees)
• Undergraduate College (% of college enrollees)
• Graduate or Professional School (% of college enrollees)

Owners & Renters

• Owner-Occupied Housing (Households)
• Renter-Occupied Housing (Households)
• Owner-Occupied Housing (Residents)
• Renter-Occupied Housing (Residents)

Overall Housing Costs

• Cost Burdened: Spending 30% or More on Housing
• Severely Cost Burdened: Spending 50% or More on Housing
• Cost Burdened: Spending 30% or More on Housing (Renters)
• Severely Cost Burdened: Spending 50% or More on Housing (Renters)
• Cost Burdened: Spending 30% or More on Housing (Owners)
• Severely Cost Burdened: Spending 50% or More on Housing (Owners)
• Cost Burdened: Spending 30% or More on Housing (Owners with a mortgage)
• Severely Cost Burdened: Spending 50% or More on Housing (Owners with a mortgage)
• Cost Burdened: Spending 30% or More on Housing (Owners without a mortgage)
• Severely Cost Burdened: Spending 50% or More on Housing (Owners without a mortgage)
• 10th Percentile Monthly Housing Costs
• 25th Percentile Monthly Housing Costs
• Median Monthly Housing Costs
• 75th Percentile Monthly Housing Costs
• 90th Percentile Monthly Housing Costs

Renter Housing Costs

• Average Rent + Utilities
• 10th Percentile Rent + Utilities
• 25th Percentile Rent + Utilities
• Median Rent + Utilities
• 75th Percentile Rent + Utilities
• 90th Percentile Rent + Utilities
• Average Rent
• 10th Percentile Rent
• 25th Percentile Rent
• Median Rent
• 75th Percentile Rent
• 90th Percentile Rent

Homeowner Housing Costs

• Average Monthly Owner Costs (With Mortgage)
• 10th Percentile Monthly Owner Costs (With Mortgage)
• 25th Percentile Monthly Owner Costs (With Mortgage)
• Median Monthly Owner Costs (With Mortgage)
• 75th Percentile Monthly Owner Costs (With Mortgage)
• 90th Percentile Monthly Owner Costs (With Mortgage)
• Monthly Homeowner Costs Without a Mortgage: Average Monthly Owner Costs
• Monthly Homeowner Costs Without a Mortgage: 10th Percentile Monthly Owner Costs
• Monthly Homeowner Costs Without a Mortgage: 25th Percentile Monthly Owner Costs
• Monthly Homeowner Costs Without a Mortgage: Median Monthly Owner Costs
• Monthly Homeowner Costs Without a Mortgage: 75th Percentile Monthly Owner Costs
• Monthly Homeowner Costs Without a Mortgage: 90th Percentile Monthly Owner Costs
• Home Values: Average Home Value
• 10th Percentile Home Value
• 25th Percentile Home Value
• Median Home Value
• 75th Percentile Home Value
• 90th Percentile Home Value

Federal Housing Assistance

• All HUD-Subsidized Units (% of housing units)
• Housing Choice Vouchers (% of housing units)
• Public Housing (% of housing units)
• Project-Based Section 8 (% of housing units)
• Other Project-Based Programs (% of housing units)
• Average Household Income
• Average Tenant-Paid Rent
• Average Monthly Government Spending
• Below 30% of Area Median Income
• HUD Recipient Households With Children
• HUD Recipient Households Where the Head or Spouse Has a Disability

Housing Stock

• Overall Vacancy Rate
• Rental Vacancy Rate (% of rental units)
• Owner Vacancy Rate (% of owner units)
• Occupied Housing Units
• Vacant Housing Units
• Median Year Built
• Single-Family Homes
• Buildings With 2–4 Units
• Buildings With 5–19 Units
• Buildings With 20 or More Units
• Overcrowded: More Than 1 Person per Room (% of occupied housing units)
• Natural Gas Heat
• Electric Heat
• Other Heating Source

Mobility

• Median Year Moved In
• Share Moved Within Last Year (% of all residents)
• Moved Last Year: Within Cook County (% of all residents)
• Moved Last Year: From a Different Illinois County (% of all residents)
• Moved Last Year: From a Different State (% of all residents)
• Moved Last Year: From Abroad (% of all residents)

Environment

• Tree Canopy (Area-weighted)
• Impervious Surfaces (Area-weighted)
• Natural Open Surfaces (Area-weighted)
• Homes Without Air Conditioning

Transportation

• Drove Alone to Work
• Carpooled to Work
• Commuted by Public Transit
• Walked to Work
• Biked to Work
• Other Commute Mode
• Average Commute Time
• Average Vehicles per Household
• Households With No Vehicle

Technology Access

• K–12 Students Without a Computer and/or Internet
• College Students Without a Computer and/or Internet
• No Computer or Smartphone
• Smartphone Only, No Desktop or Laptop
• Desktop or Laptop Available
• Has Internet Access
• Cellular Data Plan Only
• Internet Access Without a Paid Subscription
• No Internet Access

Health Insurance & Disability

• Uninsured Residents
• Uninsured Children Under 19 (% of children under 19)
• Uninsured Adults Ages 19–64 (% of adults ages 19–64)
• Uninsured Adults Ages 65 and Older (% of adults 65 and older)
• Insured (Any Coverage)
• Employer-Based Insurance
• Direct-Purchase Insurance
• Health Insurance Coverage Types: Medicare
• Health Insurance Coverage Types: Medicaid
• Military Health Coverage (TRICARE / VA)
• Multiple Types of Insurance, Specific Types Unspecified
• Health Insurance Coverage Types: Uninsured
• Any Disability
• Ambulatory Disability
• Hearing Disability
• Vision Disability
• Cognitive Disability
• Self-Care Disability
• Independent Living Disability

Health

• Incidence of Health Problems: Arthritis
• High Blood Pressure
• Incidence of Health Problems: Cancer
• Incidence of Health Problems: Current Asthma
• Coronary Heart Disease
• COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
• Incidence of Health Problems: Diabetes
• Incidence of Health Problems: High Cholesterol
• Incidence of Health Problems: Obesity
• Incidence of Health Problems: Stroke
• Lost All Natural Teeth
• Binge Drinking in Past 30 Days
• Current Cigarette Smoking
• No Leisure-Time Physical Activity
• Short Sleep Duration
• Fair or Poor Self-Reported Health
• Frequent Physical Distress
• Taking Medication for High Blood Pressure
• Routine Checkup in Past Year
• Cholesterol Check in Past 5 Years
• Up to Date on Colorectal Cancer Screening
• Dental Visit in Past Year
• Mammogram in Past 2 Years
• Medical Provider-Diagnosed Depression
• Frequent Mental Distress
• Lack of Social/Emotional Support
• Loneliness