Aurora Economy Shows Steady Business Additions Through 2024

Aurora added 76 new businesses through ribbon cuttings in 2024, after 74 openings the prior year and 97 in 2022. City employment rose 4.5 percent while the broader region posted 7.5 percent growth, figures that exceed Illinois at 1 percent and the Chicago MSA at 2.2 percent.

These numbers arrive as Aurora positions itself as a lower-cost option near Chicago, with median household income at $96,345 and median home value at $280,878. The figures come from local tracking reported through city channels and regional analyses.

Employment and Industry Breakdown

Manufacturing, retail trade and health care plus social assistance remain the three largest sectors. Rush Copley Medical Center leads as the top employer with 2,200 workers. The region’s job growth has held above statewide and metro benchmarks for multiple years, according to employment records compiled in municipal planning documents.

Top wage sectors include management of companies and enterprises along with finance and insurance. Public school districts also figure among major employers. The local economy index stands at B, rated prosperous, with unemployment at 6.0 percent.

Tourism Contribution

Tourism brought $268 million into the local economy in 2022 and supported 3,000 hospitality jobs, a 10 percent rise from 2021. That activity generated $13 million in local tax revenue during the same period.

Officials have noted visitor increases in recent seasons, with the sector providing steady support alongside the manufacturing and retail base. The combination of business openings and job gains has kept Aurora’s growth ahead of surrounding areas.

Local business owners can review ribbon-cutting records and workforce reports from the city to identify sectors still adding positions. Chamber and economic development offices maintain lists of openings and permit activity for those tracking opportunities in the coming months.