Kankakee is a regional center for agricultural trade such as soybeans, corn, vegetables and flowers. The city also manufactures a variety of items including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, flooring products, metal products and processed foods. The major sectors for employment in Kankakee are healthcare, education, government, accommodation and food services, manufacturing, social assistance, finance and insurance and construction.
Some of the popular jobs in Kankakee primarily filled by college graduates are teachers, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives, managers, accountants and auditors, social and human service assistants, librarians, financial managers and pharmacists.
The major employers in Kankakee are:
- Riverside Healthcare
- Shapiro Developmental Center
- Provena St. Mary's Hospital
- CIGNA Healthcare
- Baker & Taylor Co
- Sears Logistics Services
- CSL Behring
- K-Mart Distribution Center
- Cognic Corp
- Bunge Edible Oils
- Armstrong World Industries
- Esselte
- Nucor Steel
- Merisant
- Flanders-Precisionaire
- Peddinghaus Corp
- Valspar
- American Springwire
- Micro Inks Corp
Notable data about Kankakee: In 2008 the cost of living index was 97.7 which is near the nation's average of 100. About 13% of the adult population has a bachelor's degree or higher. In 2007 the estimated median household income in Kankakee was $34,000.
Kankakee companies have access to helpful business organizations including:
- Kankakee Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Kankakee County Economic Alliance
- Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
The Daily Journal offers current information about the business activities in Kankakee.