Jobs & Economy in DeKalb
DeKalb's economy runs substantially on Northern Illinois University, with Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital as a real, substantial second anchor.
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Learn moreNIU: DeKalb's largest employer
Northern Illinois University -- with a real, current, rebounding 16,078-student enrollment -- is DeKalb's largest single employer and the anchor of the local economy.
Kishwaukee Hospital as a real second anchor
Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital, part of the larger Northwestern Medicine system since December 2015, employs more than 150 physicians and anchors regional healthcare access and employment.
Confirm current, specific job-market data
Confirm current, specific DeKalb County job-market and sector data directly -- this record does not claim DeKalb's historic barbed-wire manufacturing legacy remains a major current employment sector.
Key takeaways
- NIU is DeKalb's largest employer, with a real, current enrollment rebound (16,078, +4.3%).
- Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital is a real, substantial second economic and employment anchor.
- Confirm current, specific DeKalb County job-market data directly for other sectors.
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