Illinois unemployment is again on the rise as Pritzker proposes business taxes

By Brad Weisenstein

02/25/2021

Unemployment claims bumped up for a second week in Illinois as Gov. J.B. Pritzker decided to push for 9 new taxes, mostly hitting businesses and job creation. Illinois ranked 49th for recovery last week.

TAGS: budget, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, jobs, labor, taxes, unemployment

Illinois faced nursing shortage before COVID-19 stressed health care

By Laura Bianchi

02/24/2021

An impending health care worker shortage argues for a bill that would allow Illinois to join a multi-state nursing license compact. Nurses could see improved job options.

TAGS: COVID-19, nurse, occupational licensing

Illinois’ poorest hit hardest by COVID-19 job loss, many still unemployed

By Bryce Hill

02/19/2021

Illinois households earning less than $40,000 were four-times as likely to lose their jobs from February-April 2020 and nearly 11 times as likely to still be out of work compared to those earning $75,000 or more.

TAGS: COVID-19, jobs, lockdown, unemployment

Illinois’ leisure and hospitality industry among hardest hit in Midwest

By Bryce Hill

02/18/2021

The industry had been one of the bright spots in the Illinois economy but COVID-19 and state-mandated mitigation efforts have decimated it.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, jobs, recession, restaurants

Illinois unemployment claims double after several weeks of improvement

By Brad Weisenstein

02/18/2021

While the nation gets back to work, Illinois unemployment claims rose again. The past week ranked Illinois 50th out of 51, including Washington, D.C.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois, unemployment

Every metropolitan area in Illinois shed jobs in 2020

By Bryce Hill

02/09/2021

The record year for job losses hit every corner of Illinois amid COVID-19 and state-mandated lockdowns.

TAGS: COVID-19, jobs, recession, unemployment

Illinois only Midwest state to lose people in past decade

By Bryce Hill

01/25/2021

Illinois’ population decline has been accelerating during the past 7 years, while neighboring states gain from that loss.

TAGS: Illinois, outmigration, population

2020 is worst year for jobs in Illinois’ history

By Bryce Hill

01/25/2021

Illinois lost 423,300 jobs from December 2019 through December 2020.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, jobs, unemployment

Moving companies report Illinois exodus hits 10th year

By Ann Miller

01/14/2021

More people again in 2020 became former Illinoisans than new Illinoisans. The new General Assembly has the power to stop the moving vans.

TAGS: COVID-19, outmigration, population, property taxes

Illinois unemployment claims double

By Brad Weisenstein

01/14/2021

Illinois unemployment numbers dropped for a week during the holidays, but they were back up last week as the state's hospitality industry remains out in the cold.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, jobs, unemployment