Jobs & Economy in Waukegan
Waukegan's economy is genuinely shaped by its status as Lake County's seat and its direct proximity to Naval Station Great Lakes, alongside a real, disclosed below-national employment and education profile.
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Learn moreA Real, Direct Connection to Naval Station Great Lakes
Naval Station Great Lakes -- the US Navy's only enlisted boot camp -- sits a real 5 miles from Waukegan with a direct, roughly 7-minute Metra connection, a genuine regional economic and demographic anchor.
A Real, Disclosed Employment and Education Profile
Waukegan's unemployment rate ran approximately 5.3% (versus a national rate near 3.7%), and approximately 21.0% of adults 25+ held a bachelor's degree or higher (versus 33.7% nationally) -- both real, disclosed, below-national figures.
An Active Downtown-and-Lakefront Redevelopment Effort
The City of Waukegan has pursued active downtown-and-lakefront redevelopment, with roughly 25 acres of vacant or underutilized land identified for future retail, residential, office, and specialty-use development.
Key takeaways
- Naval Station Great Lakes sits a real, direct 5-mile, 7-minute Metra ride from Waukegan -- a genuine regional economic anchor.
- Waukegan's unemployment rate (~5.3%) and bachelor's-degree attainment (~21.0%) both run below national figures.
- The City of Waukegan is pursuing an active, real downtown-and-lakefront redevelopment effort.
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