10 Illinois metro areas gain jobs, only 1 recovers from pandemic

By Bryce Hill

08/02/2022

Only Bloomington has recouped early 2020 job losses, which is bad news for Illinois’ lagging economy as recession fears increase.

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

Illinois still missing 1 in 7 jobs lost during pandemic

By Bryce Hill, Thomas Erie

08/01/2022

With the highest unemployment rate in the Midwest and 117,000 jobs still missing, Illinois’ labor market is among the least recovered in the region.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economic recovery, employment, job creation, jobs

Illinois sees nation’s largest drop in job openings as recession fears grow

By Bryce Hill, Matthew Badali

07/29/2022

Illinois’ job opening rate declined 1.5 percentage points in May. That’s not a good way to enter a potential recession.

TAGS: Illinois, jobs, recession, unemployment

Illinois leads the nation in foreclosures in 2022

By Bryce Hill, Matthew Badali

07/29/2022

Illinois homeowners are most likely in the nation to be in foreclosure. The looming $2,100 property tax hike from Amendment 1 would make housing even more unaffordable.

TAGS: Amendment 1, foreclosure, housing market, Illinois

What a recession would mean for Illinois

By Bryce Hill

07/28/2022

Politicians and pundits can’t seem to agree about whether the U.S. is in a recession, but the semantics matter little for struggling Americans. Illinois can expect economic pain regardless of what it’s called.

TAGS: GDP: gross domestic product, Illinois, recession

Pritzker sells Thompson Center for one-third of predicted price

By Patrick Andriesen

07/27/2022

Gov. J.B. Pritzker sold the iconic state office building in downtown Chicago to Google for $105 million. He settled for far less than the $300 million sale price state politicians predicted.

TAGS: Chicago, Google, JB Pritzker, Thompson Center

Illinois slices into family deli’s bottom line

By Ann Miller

07/25/2022

Gov. J.B. Pritzker added $650 million in taxes and fee hikes for small businesses in his last budget. Voters will decide Nov. 8 if Illinois’ business climate will get tougher, yet, through Amendment 1.

TAGS: Illinois, inflation, small business, tax burden

Illinois adds 18,800 jobs in June, still missing 117,000 from pandemic

By Bryce Hill

07/22/2022

Illinois’ employment recovery continued in June, but the state is still missing one in seven jobs lost during the pandemic.

TAGS: economic recovery, Illinois, jobs, unemployment

Highest inflation in 40 years deals Illinoisans $2,900 pay cut

By Bryce Hill

07/21/2022

Wages have failed to keep up with inflation, dropping Illinoisans’ purchasing power by $2,900 on average.

TAGS: Amendment 1, gas prices, inflation, interest rates, property taxes

US jobs report beats June estimate, but Illinois at greater risk if recession hits

By Bryce Hill

07/14/2022

Illinois is one of the states with the most to gain from the continued national jobs recovery, but could be hit harder than other states by a recession.

TAGS: Illinois, jobs, recession, unemployment