Insider Brief:
- Illinois is transforming Chicago’s South Side into a quantum hub, with PsiQuantum at its center, but residents worry whether the promised jobs will be accessible to the local workforce.
- Energy demand is rising as Illinois pursues quantum and AI industries, prompting legislation for a 15 GW energy storage target and virtual power plant program to stabilize the grid and reduce costs.
- Workforce development must expand beyond traditional academic pipelines, with apprenticeship programs, microelectronics manufacturing roles, and coding boot camps to ensure local communities benefit from quantum advancements.
Illinois’ hero’s journey stands at a crossroads between what has been and what could be. Once the heart of American steel production, Chicago’s South Side has been reimagined as a quantum hub, with PsiQuantum at the center of the soon-to-be Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park. State leaders have knighted this effort as an economic revival, an opportunity to label Illinois as prosperous force of technological innovation. Yet, as the construction of a new quantum technology campus looms, local residents question whether this vision truly serves them.
The contrast is stark—on one hand, policymakers champion Illinois as a rising leader in quantum science, and on the other, according to the most recent recorded rates from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state struggles with one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation, making a Top 5 list no one asked to be apart of. While the promise of thousands of jobs is nothing if not music to sore ears, the benefit is somewhat null and void if they remain out of reach for those who need them most.
Energy, Infrastructure, and the Rising Costs of Progress
Illinois’ economic ambitions are unfolding against a darker backdrop of soaring energy prices. The state is the sixth-largest energy consumer in the U.S., and according to PV Magazine, demand is projected to outpace supply within years. In response, lawmakers have proposed a 15 GW energy storage target, a number that mirrors California’s. If approved, this bill has the potential to satiate power-hungry emerging industries like artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
As State Rep. Barbara Hernandez pointed out for PV Magazine, “Illinois’ power grid needs this legislation to accommodate high-energy emerging industries such as data centers, quantum computing, and AI.” The bill also introduces a virtual power plant program, a decentralized network of small-scale energy sources that could alleviate grid stress, lowering costs for consumers. This is especially important as energy prices have spiked, adding financial strain to communities already struggling with economic instability.
If the power grid expands to meet the needs of quantum computing and other endeavors, the central question remains: will these new opportunities benefit Illinoisans in need of work, or will they remain theoretical promises?
Investing in the Future: UIC’s Role in Quantum Workforce Development
In contrast to the uncertainty surrounding workforce accessibility, the University of Illinois Chicago has made clear where it stands in the bet on the future. As noted in a recent article from UIC, the university has invested heavily in programs to train the next generation of quantum engineers, offering hands-on research opportunities in partnership with Fermilab, Argonne National Laboratory, and quantum startups. These experiences allow students to build tangible and essential skills in quantum networking, error correction, and algorithm development.
UIC’s efforts extend beyond traditional academia. The Quantum Information Science Society, a student-led initiative, has grown from a niche group to an active organization with over 500 members, holding events that introduce undergraduates to quantum computing. “You don’t necessarily have to major in physics or engineering to do quantum; you can do quantum biology, quantum chemistry, quantum finance,” said Taha Munshi in an interview for the UIC article. Munshi is one of the Quantum Information Science Society’s founders. “If we get everyone to know about quantum, then in the future, there’s going to be more people to fill those positions when the field is going to start growing very rapidly.”
Yet, this kind of preparation is not accessible to everyone. UIC’s investment in quantum education is commendable, but it primarily benefits students already within academic institutions. The South Side, where the new quantum campus is being built, tells a different story—one where access to higher education is far from guaranteed.
The Fall of Empires and the Struggle to Rebuild
Before the South Side’s abandoned steel mills were designated as the future home of fault-tolerant quantum computing, they were the lifeblood of Chicago’s industrial economy. Entire families thrived on union-backed steel jobs. But as the steel industry collapsed, so did the economic fabric of the community. Today, residents grapple with job scarcity, with many struggling to secure employment that pays a living wage.
According to a recent editorial from the Illinois Answers Project, the South Side’s unemployment crisis is compounded by educational disparities as a significant percentage of residents do not have a bachelor’s degree, making them ineligible for many of the high-tech roles promised by quantum development. Some community members fear that if they aren’t included in the economic benefits of the quantum hub, they may soon find themselves priced out of their own neighborhoods.
Local resident Sam Corona, whose father worked in the steel mills, voiced his skepticism for Illinois Answers Prokect: “These are cutting-edge technology companies that are looking, maybe nationally or maybe globally, for talent. What’s the hope in them hiring from the same zip code?”
His concerns are echoed by community organizations, which have been advocating for a formal commitment from quantum park developers to ensure that jobs are accessible to locals. So far, no hiring quotas or anti-displacement policies have been put in place.
Redefining Workforce Inclusion
The development of a quantum hub in Chicago reflects Illinois’ broader approach to embracing emerging technologies—supporting infrastructure, seeking energy solutions, and encouraging university-led innovation. And while these are initiatives that should be lauded for their noble goals, as the city positions itself as a global leader in quantum computing, it may risk leaving behind the very communities it hopes to uplift.
Perhaps the answer lies in rethinking workforce development. As quantum computing moves from scientific research to commercial application, the need for specialized talent will only grow. Yet, as noted in the Illinois Answers Project, the majority of job postings in the field require at least a bachelor’s degree, with many positions calling for PhDs in physics or engineering.
But what if workforce development for quantum didn’t have to follow the traditional pipeline? After all, quantum itself defies convention.
In an age where AI, online learning, and alternative education models are proving that knowledge is more accessible than ever, Illinois has an opportunity to develop a new kind of workforce training program—one that doesn’t just prepare quantum PhDs but also creates opportunities for motivated individuals at all educational levels.
Rather than waiting for the quantum industry to organically open its doors, Illinois could take proactive steps to ensure inclusivity. This could look like apprenticeship programs that train technicians for quantum hardware maintenance, microelectronics manufacturing roles that support quantum chip production, coding boot camps for software engineers specializing in quantum algorithms, or entrepreneurial incubators that empower locals to build quantum-adjacent businesses.
The True Test Beyond the Lab
Historically, emerging industries have followed a predictable trajectory: breakthroughs occur in academic institutions and national labs, companies recruit from elite universities, and economic benefits trickle down—if at all—over decades. But quantum computing presents a rare opportunity to break this cycle.
By creating an education-to-workforce pipeline that meets people where they are, Illinois could ensure that the South Side’s revival stretches beyond technological advancement to economic justice.
If Illinois truly wants to lead the world in quantum computing, it must think beyond the lab. The greatest experiment of all is not just whether quantum computers can outperform classical ones, it’s whether the future they promise will be accessible to all.
