Illinois added 4,700 jobs in April, but workforce continues to shrink

By Bryce Hill

05/21/2018

The state also saw a drop in the unemployment rate over the month, fueled by employment gains and labor force decline.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, jobs, labor force participation rate, outmigration, Spending, unemployment

Carbondale could lead on easing food truck regulations

By Joe Kaiser

05/11/2018

Though some of Illinois’ larger municipalities such as Chicago and Evanston have been overly restrictive in regulating food trucks, the Carbondale City Council has debated loosening them for its city, soliciting mixed opinions.

TAGS: carbondale, food trucks, jobs, regulations

Senate bill would require regulators to jump more hurdles before imposing new licensing restrictions

By Vincent Caruso

05/07/2018

Regulatory regimes in Illinois often discourage workforce participation without enhancing public welfare. One Senate bill, however, would require regulators to demonstrate the necessity of new rules before imposing them on workers.

TAGS: Chicago, food trucks, licensing, Lisa Creason, occupational licensing, Pam Althoff, regulations, scott bennett, Tom Demmer

Illinois’ metro areas shed 3,600 jobs in March

By Bryce Hill

04/30/2018

Seven metro areas across the state lost jobs over the month.

TAGS: Bloomington, Champaign, decatur, Elgin, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, jobs, labor force participation rate, peoria, quad cities, rockford, Springfield, unemployment

Illinois shed 2,100 jobs in March

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

04/20/2018

The state also saw a drop in the unemployment rate, but it wasn’t because people found jobs.

TAGS: IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, jobs, labor force participation rate, unemployment

Trio of licensing reform bills advance to House floor

By Vincent Caruso

04/13/2018

Three proposals that would ease occupational licensing restrictions have reached the House floor, passing unanimously out of committee.

TAGS: occupational licensing, Tom Demmer

Senate bill would bar Illinois from axing occupational licenses due to student loan debt

By Vincent Caruso

04/09/2018

Under Illinois law, defaulting on student loan debt could jeopardize one’s occupational license. But a Senate bill would protect indebted workers from displacement.

TAGS: occupational licensing, student loans

Revised data show Decatur added 400 jobs in 2017

By Austin Berg

04/07/2018

Revisions from the Bureau of Labor Statistics flipped Decatur’s jobs growth from negative to positive over the year, though the growth was meager.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, decatur, jobs, unemployment

3 Illinois metro areas saw jobs decline in 2017, 9 see growth in February

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

04/05/2018

Illinois’ metro areas added 11,300 jobs in February, while only one metro area lost jobs over the month. Despite strong employment growth from metro areas in February, Illinois is still far behind U.S. growth over the last 12 months.

Illinois Senate holds hearing on sports betting legalization

By Vincent Caruso

04/04/2018

As a looming U.S. Supreme Court decision could lift a federal ban on sports betting, state lawmakers hear testimony on whether Illinois should follow suit.