Aurora, Illinois, located on the outskirts of Chicago and running along the banks of the Fox River, is an urban city with a population of around 200,000 — the second highest in the state. Vocational students might find Aurora has a lot to offer in terms of trade school education and careers.
Top Industries and Employers in Aurora
With its proximity to Chicago and the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor, Aurora, Illinois has a wide variety of top industries and fastest-growing industries, including:
- Education
- Administrative and support services
- Waste management
- Health care
- Accommodation and food service
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Finance and insurance
- Construction
Aurora's three largest employers with some of the highest-paying careers are the Children's Hospital of Colorado, Raytheon Company and Kaiser Permanente. Amazon also has a large presence in the city.
Why is Aurora good for trade students?
There are two groups committed to improving the economy in Aurora: the Aurora Economic Development Commission (AEDC) and Aurora Downtown. The AEDC was formed in 1981 to keep businesses in the Aurora and Fox River Valley area.
Aurora Downton, on the other hand, was created to preserve the historic downtown area. Aurora Downtown helps to facilitate improvement and development projects in the Special Service Tax Area.
In addition to these two organizations, there are incentives in places to encourage economic growth and employment in Aurora, which is why Aurora is good for vocational students:
- Local Programs: Aurora Downtown offers grants for the restoration of the historic downtown area, and AEDC works with small businesses to receive financing with tax-exempt IRS Bonds.
- State Programs: Bonds and loans are also available to businesses and nonprofits through the Illinois Development Finance Authority. Other economic opportunities are available through the Illinois State Treasurer's Office.
- Job Training Programs: The AEDC works with both Waubonsee Community College and the College of Du Page to connect job training providers with employers. AEDC provides grants for employee training and Waubonsee Community College connects employers in the area with job seekers through the Department of Labor's Bureau of Apprenticeship Training.
With all of the potential job opportunities, Aurora can be a great place for trade and vocational students to find job training and employment.
Learn More about Aurora
Demographics | Total Population | 200,660 |
Education and Earnings | # Enrolled in College | 10,039 |
Median Earnings Without High School Degree | $25,153 | |
Median Earnings With High School Degree | $30,907 | |
Median Earnings With Associate Degree | $40,031 |
Commute | Average Commute Time | 29 minutes |
% Commutes by Walking | 1.3% | |
% Commutes by Bicycle | 0.2% | |
% Commutes by Public Transportation | 4.1% |
Housing | Median Housing Cost | $1,329 |
Median Gross Rent | $1,205 | |
Median House Value | $178,300 |