This legislative session members of the Illinois General Assembly passed a bill to make it easier to sue out-of-state businesses and a bill that would prevent state agencies from adopting eased workplace regulations. Illinois’ business climate is bad, but these bills could make it worse.
Illinois companies announced 1,477 mass layoffs during May. The highest concentration of cuts impacted Champaign after one of the state’s largest health insurers, Health Alliance, announced it would end coverage and halt operations.
Outcomes for Illinoisans have dropped since Gov. J.B. Pritzker took office. The nation’s Democrats need to see where he’s taken Illinois before following his lead on the national stage.
Illinois companies announced 1,023 mass layoffs in April, with more than half from business closures. One-fifth of Illinois job cuts resulted from a lost contract to manage McCormick Place in Chicago.
Since 2020, 84% of Illinois communities have lost population. Small towns were hit hardest by population declines in 2024, while Chicago’s migrant crisis helped offset people choosing to leave.
The Illinois Senate is considering a bill to allow dental students to practice under supervision with temporary licenses. Two-thirds of Illinois counties have a dentist shortage.
Illinois companies announced 947 mass layoffs in March. All but 21 of the job cuts were permanent.
Unemployment in Illinois remains stubbornly high. February’s unemployment rate was the fifth highest in the nation at 4.8%.
State politicians might eliminate the tipped minimum wage, putting tipped workers on the $15 per hour wage. But with higher wages come higher costs for businesses, which could raise prices or cut jobs.
Illinois’ job market continued to struggle in January as the national economy grew. The job troubles were seen in eight of Illinois’ 13 metropolitan areas, with Champaign-Urbana hit the hardest.
Illinois’ job market struggles continued with almost 50,000 more unemployed workers than there were job openings in January – the fifth-worst ratio in the nation.
Illinois’ unemployment improved somewhat in January. It ranked fifth highest in the nation after being third highest for months.