Everything you need to know about Illinois unemployment

By Brad Weisenstein

06/11/2021

The Illinois Department of Employment Security was ill-prepared to handle record numbers of unemployed workers when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, was slow to distribute federal help, exposed Illinoisans' private information, then lefts thousands on hold awaiting answers. Here's the latest.

TAGS: IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, JB Pritzker, jobs, labor, taxes, unemployment

Illinois ranks 7th worst in U.S. for pandemic unemployment assistance rollout

By Patrick Andriesen

06/08/2021

Illinois was among the nation’s worst for delays in helping gig workers and the self-employed receive pandemic assistance unemployment payments, a federal audit found. Rampant fraud and inadequate reporting was also discovered nationwide.

TAGS: IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, Illinois, unemployment

Chicago plan to cap Uber, Lyft fares could lead to fewer rides

By Ann Miller

05/28/2021

A Chicago alderman wants to cap ride-share prices during peak demand. But price controls could leave more riders stranded if extra drivers are no longer attracted by extra cash.

TAGS: Chicago, regulations, rideshare, Uber

Illinois McDonald’s offers iPhones if job recruits stay 6 months

05/27/2021

The hospitality industry’s heavy losses during COVID-19 are still being felt, with one McDonald’s offering iPhones to lure recruits. Half the states trimmed unemployment to get workers back, but Pritzker’s message to struggling businesses is they should pay $1.5 billion in new taxes.

TAGS: COVID-19, iPhone, jobs, McDonald's

90% of Illinois communities lost population in 2020

By Bryce Hill

05/27/2021

Census estimates predict nearly all Illinois municipalities shed population last year, with a greater share of large communities being affected.

TAGS: Illinois, outmigration, population, U.S. Census Bureau

One year later, Illinois’ jobs recovery from COVID-19 among slowest in U.S.

By Bryce Hill

05/22/2021

Job losses peaked in April 2020 amid COVID-19 and state-mandated shutdowns. In the year-long recovery since, Illinois’ has been among the nation’s slowest.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois, jobs, recession, unemployment

Illinois recovery stalls as state sheds 4,000 private sector jobs in April

By Bryce Hill

05/21/2021

While total payrolls were up 300, private sector jobs took a beating in April and lost 4,000 positions. Illinois’ labor market completely stalled as the national economic recovery slowed.

TAGS: COVID-19, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, Illinois, jobs, recession

All Illinois metro areas see populations drop in 2020

By Bryce Hill

05/20/2021

Each of Illinois’ metropolitan areas got smaller from July 2019-July 2020, census estimates showed.

TAGS: Illinois, outmigration, population, U.S. Census Bureau

Nearly all Illinois counties lost population in 2020

By Bryce Hill

05/17/2021

Census estimates tallied population decline in 98 of Illinois’ 102 counties. Only Los Angeles County lost more people than Cook County last year.

TAGS: Illinois, outmigration, population

Illinois is home to most seriously delinquent mortgages in Midwest

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

05/14/2021

Data reveals 5.7% of Illinois homeowners are at least 90 days behind on their payments.

TAGS: COVID-19, homeownership, Illinois, mortgage, real estate