79% of Illinois communities lose people in 2021; Chicago loses 45K

By Bryce Hill

05/25/2022

1,019 Illinois communities of all sizes shared in the loss of 114,000 residents in 2021, new census data shows. Chicago lost 40% of the total.

TAGS: Chicago, Illinois, outmigration, population

Pritzker fact check: Illinois population isn’t ‘booming’

By Dylan Sharkey

05/24/2022

A Census survey intended to estimate the accuracy of the 2020 Census is being used to project an Illinois population increase. While there may be more Illinoisans than originally thought, that does not mean they aren’t leaving at an accelerating pace.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, outmigration, population, U.S. Census Bureau

Pritzker promotes false narrative of Illinois population ‘boom’

By Bryce Hill

05/20/2022

Some Illinois politicians are using an estimate to revise the Census count and claim Illinois doesn't have a problem with its residents moving away. A closer look shows they are wrong, and the danger of denial.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, outmigration, population, U.S. Census Bureau

Illinois marks 10th month of job gains, but still missing 1-in-5 jobs

By Bryce Hill

05/12/2022

Illinois is steadily adding jobs lost during the COVID-19 economic downturn, but despite 10 months of gains the state recovery lags the nation. Some metropolitan areas are far behind where they were.

TAGS: COVID-19, economic recovery, jobs, unemployment

Union power vote, population loss threaten Illinois’ labor market recovery

By Bryce Hill

04/28/2022

Key indicators show Illinois’ labor market could begin adding jobs faster than the national economy if population decline and Amendment 1 don’t derail the state’s trajectory.

TAGS: COVID-19, economic recovery, Illinois, jobs, unemployment

Illinois adds 18,300 jobs in March, still missing 154,500 from pandemic

By Bryce Hill

04/15/2022

Illinois’ employment recovery continued in March, but the state is still missing one in five jobs lost during the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic downturn and state restrictions.

TAGS: COVID-19, economic recovery, Illinois, jobs, unemployment

Champaign-Urbana loses 5,300 jobs in February as most Illinois metros gain

By Bryce Hill

04/01/2022

Illinois posted job growth of 19,600 in February, with bigger payrolls in 10 of 14 Illinois-based metropolitan areas.

TAGS: Champaign, economic recovery, Illinois, jobs, unemployment, Urbana

Pritzker ranks 4th-worst governor for economic freedom

By Dylan Sharkey

03/30/2022

In a new report on America’s 50 governors, Gov. J.B Pritzker was ranked 47th because of the harm he’s done to the state economy. Voters saved him from a lower rank by rejecting his ‘fair tax.’

TAGS: economic freedom, JB Pritzker

Illinois’ leisure, hospitality industry suffering 3rd-worst recovery in U.S.

By Bryce Hill

03/30/2022

Illinois is still missing 77,000 jobs from its restaurants, bars, hotels and other leisure industries since COVID-19 shutdowns. That Illinois jobs sector has recovered only 72% of what it lost in the pandemic – one of the nation’s worst recoveries.

TAGS: COVID-19, economic recovery, Illinois, jobs, unemployment

Illinois adds 19,600 jobs in February, still missing 178,300 jobs from pandemic

By Bryce Hill

03/29/2022

Illinois’ employment recovery continued in February, but the state is still missing 21% of the jobs it lost in early 2020

TAGS: economic recovery, Illinois, jobs, unemployment