Chicagoland Named #1 U.S. Metro for Corporate Relocation & Site Selection

Region Marks 13th Consecutive Year Atop Annual Ranking, Reflecting $1.7B in Earnings, 26.3M Sq. Ft. of Space & 19,600 Jobs

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Chicago has again been named the top U.S. metro for corporate relocation and site selection by Site Selection Magazine, marking a record 13th consecutive year in the No. 1 position. The annual ranking, based on verified corporate facility projects, is widely regarded as a measure of business expansion and investment activity nationwide and underscores Chicago's sustained competitiveness in attracting capital and jobs. Illinois ranked No. 2 among states for corporate expansion projects.

Why it matters

This recognition reflects the strength of a city and region that competes — and wins — as one. Through the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership (GCEP), Chicago and Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties align around a unified strategy to attract capital, grow industry, and scale opportunity across the entire seven-county footprint.

The details

In 2025, WBC recorded 223 qualifying PCDs, a 40% year-over-year increase. These projects include companies expanding existing local operations, relocating from outside the region, or entering the Chicagoland market for the first time. Based on WBC's methodology, this activity corresponds to an estimated 19,600 new and retained jobs, $1.7 billion in annual earnings, and more than 26 million square feet of commercial and industrial space. The pace of expansion and market entry outperformed 2024 totals and reflects sustained business confidence in the region's workforce, infrastructure, and market access.

  • In 2025, WBC recorded 223 qualifying PCDs, a 40% year-over-year increase.
  • In 2025, GCEP strengthened cross-county coordination and expanded international engagement, including hosting SelectCHI for global decision-makers and leading a strategic trade mission to Japan.

The players

World Business Chicago (WBC)

An organization that tracks corporate expansions, relocations, and new market entrants across the city and the Chicagoland region through its Pro-Chicagoland Decisions (PCDs) metric.

Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership (GCEP)

A partnership through which Chicago and Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties align around a unified strategy to attract capital, grow industry, and scale opportunity across the entire seven-county footprint.

Brandon Johnson

The Mayor of Chicago.

Adam Bruns

The Editor in Chief of Site Selection Magazine.

Phil Clement

The President & CEO of World Business Chicago.

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What they’re saying

“Chicago's continued leadership in corporate relocation and expansion reflects the strengths our city has built over generations. From manufacturing and freight to transportation and global logistics, we have long served as the backbone of American commerce. That industrial depth, combined with modern infrastructure and a skilled workforce, is why companies continue to choose Chicago to grow, invest, and innovate.”

— Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago (PRNewswire)

“Site Selection Magazine's annual rankings once again underscore the scale of Chicagoland's business momentum. All told, more than 3,100 corporate facility projects qualifying for our database landed last year in the 30 U.S. metros listed among the top 10 by total projects in each of three population tiers. Chicagoland's projects represented nearly 20% of the total. Those are some mighty big shoulders.”

— Adam Bruns, Editor in Chief, Site Selection Magazine (PRNewswire)

“Chicago wins because of structural advantages— central geography at the heart of North American trade, the busiest multimodal freight network in the country, unmatched global connectivity through O'Hare, and a 5.5 million–person workforce that spans advanced research to essential operations.”

— Phil Clement, President & CEO, World Business Chicago (PRNewswire)

What’s next

The Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership (GCEP) will continue to strengthen cross-county coordination and expand international engagement to attract more corporate investment and growth to the region.

The takeaway

Chicagoland's recognition as the #1 U.S. metro for corporate relocation and site selection for 13 consecutive years underscores the region's strong collaboration, diverse talent pipeline, world-class infrastructure, and sustained business confidence. The region's ability to compete and win as one unified economic system positions it as a national model for driving long-term, sustainable growth.