1. Youth Opportunity and STEM in the Chicago Region Alan Berube Brookings Institution April 29, 2014

2. Education pays in the Chicago region Average earnings by education level divided by average earnings for workers with high school diploma-only, Chicago MSA, 2012 Source: Brookings analysis of 2012 U.S. American Community Survey via IPUMS

3. Chicago’s educational attainment exceeds the national average Share of 25+ population with bachelor’s degree, 2012 Source: 2012 American Community Survey Chicago Rank (among 100 metro areas) 19 Chicago MSA United States

4. The City of Chicago’s educational edge is narrower than the region’s Share of 25+ population with bachelor’s degree, 2012 Source: 2012 American Community Survey Chicago Rank (among 95 primary cities) 25

5. But many young people in the Chicago area are not on track for post-secondary education and are struggling in the labor market Unemployment Rate Educational attainment, enrollment, and labor market status of 19 to 24 year olds, Chicago MSA, 2012 Source: 2012 American Community Survey via IPUMS Educational Attainment/Enrollment

6. The Chicago area also has large racial/ethnic gaps in the share of young people on track for post-secondary education Share of 19-24 year olds with post-secondary degree or enrolled in post-secondary program by race/ethnicity, Chicago MSA, 2012 Source: Brookings analysis 2012 American Community Survey, via IPUMS

7. A STEM occupation is one that requires a well-above average level of knowledge in one or more core STEM fields (Science, Computing Technology, Engineering, and Math). Examples: biologists, doctors, nurses, accountants, software programmers, computer machine programmers, plumbers, and mechanics Based on data from O*NET (Dept. of Labor project) New Brookings definition of STEM

8. STEM jobs in the Chicago metro area employ workers at multiple educational levels Distribution of STEM jobs by educational requirements, Chicago MSA, 2012 Source: Brookings analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data and O*NET

9. STEM jobs in the Chicago metro area pay a premium at high and low levels of education Relative wages of STEM and non-STEM jobs by educational requirements of occupations, Chicago MSA, 2012 Source: Brookings analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data and O*NET

10. Unemployment rate by STEM and on-track status for post-secondary education, 19-24 year- olds, Chicago MSA, 2012 Source: 2012 American Community Survey, via IPUMS STEM field determined by last occupation, for those who have worked in last 5 years In the Chicago area, unemployment is much lower for young adults with STEM skills

11. Job openings data point to the emergence of a large “education gap” in the Chicago region Educational requirements of online job advertisements online, versus adult educational attainment, Chicago MSA, 2013 Source: Brookings analysis of 2013Q4 Burning Glass data, O*NET, and 2012 American Community Survey 23%

12. That gap is even more pronounced between workers and jobs in the City of Chicago Educational requirements of online job advertisements online, versus adult educational attainment, City of Chicago, 2013 Source: Brookings analysis of 2013Q4 Burning Glass data, O*NET, and 2012 American Community Survey Chicago Rank (among 156 large cities) 10 29%

13. Many of the Chicago region’s job vacancies are STEM oriented, but relatively few of its workers have formal STEM training STEM and degree requirements for job openings versus STEM degree attainment for adult population, Chicago MSA, 2013 Source: Brookings analysis of 2013Q4 Burning Glass data, O*NET, and 2009-2012 American Community Survey

14. Engaging young women in STEM can help narrow the opportunity and education gaps in the region Female share of bachelor’s degree holders by STEM field, ages 18 to 30, Chicago MSA, 2012 Source: Brookings analysis of 2012 American Community Survey via IPUMS

15. Closing the STEM opportunity gap will also require focusing on under- represented young populations, especially African Americans and Latinos STEM bachelor’s degree attainment by field versus population share, by race/ethnicity, 18-30 year-olds, Chicago MSA, 2012 Source: Brookings analysis of 2012 American Community Survey via IPUMS

16. Web: www.brookings.edu/metro Email: aberube@brookings.eduaberube@brookings.edu