A new report stressing Illinois‘ middle-skill careers could lead to more Chicago jobs.

The Workforce Alliance and the Skills2Compete-Illinois campaign recently released a survey reporting about a million middle-skill jobs should be available in Illinois by 2014. A middle-skill jobs is defined as one that requires more than a high school diploma but less than a four year college degree.

Middle-skill jobs are expected to account for almost half of all job openings in the state through 2014. The Skills2Compete campaign advocates an agenda that would guarantee access for all workers to schooling beyond high school. According to an article by the Chicago Tribune, this would mean more associate degrees, apprenticeships and occupational certificates.

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Those looking for Chicago engineering jobs should have some luck throughout the next several years.

Employment in Illinois‘ engineering and scientific research industries is expected to increase at the average rate through 2014, according to an article by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

“Engineers will be needed to constantly monitor and make improvements to aging infrastructures such as bridges, highways, and other public facilities,” the article notes. “Employers will rely more heavily on engineers to further increase productivity rates as they increase investment in plant and equipment.

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One major fixture is cutting Chicago jobs.

Earlier this week, the Chicago Transit Authority announced it would save about $40 million in costs by cutting some operations and jobs. The company has cut 43 Chicago jobs, including nine management positions, and plans to cut even more positions in the near future.

According to an article by Progressive Railroading, CTA also cut jobs by realigning its technology, purchasing and law departments. By the end of the year, the company plans to cut a total of 80 administrative jobs through layoffs and attrition, a move expected to save the company $4.9 million.

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Chicago education jobs are continuing to grow.

As of July 2008, the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet area’s education and health services industry employed 505,800 people, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, an increase of 1.4 percent from last year. The Illinois Department of Employment Security states Chicago’s educational services industry is expected to employ 351,245 people by 2014, up from 300,399 in 2004.

There are 600 public schools, 394 private schools and 83 colleges in Chicago. The city’s public schools are maintained by Chicago Public Schools, an organization that governs the district of more than 600 elementary and high schools, which includes some selective-admission magnet schools. The school district has an enrollment of more than 400,000 students and ranks as the third largest in the country.

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