Jobs + Growth

Illinois’ unemployment rate dips below 9 percent in October

Illinois’ unemployment rate dips below 9 percent in October

Illinois’ unemployment rate fell to 8.9 percent in October from 9.2 percent in August, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A total of 4,800 payroll jobs were created between August and October. Today’s BLS report, which included both October and September numbers, was delayed until today due to the government shutdown in October....

By John Klingner

Lowest labor-force participation rate since 1978

Lowest labor-force participation rate since 1978

The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the national unemployment rate rose in October to 7.3 percent from 7.2 percent one month earlier. There are 11.3 million Americans currently unemployed. The U-6 unemployment rate, which includes all workers who are unemployed or underemployed, rose to 13.8 percent, up from last month’s 13.6 percent. In total,...

By John Klingner

Decline in food stamp benefits no excuse for losing focus on job creation

Decline in food stamp benefits no excuse for losing focus on job creation

This month, the more than 2 million Illinoisans currently enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, will see a cut to their monthly food stamp benefits. An Illinois family of three will see their benefits decrease about $29. Currently, the average Illinois household receives $285 a month in benefits. The cut in benefits is due...

By John Klingner

11.3 million Americans remained unemployed in September

11.3 million Americans remained unemployed in September

After nearly a month’s delay due to the federal government’s shutdown, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced yesterday that the national unemployment rate edged down in September to 7.2 percent from 7.3 percent one month earlier. Overall, 11.3 million Americans remain unemployed. The U-6 unemployment rate, which includes all workers who are unemployed or underemployed,...

By John Klingner

1 in 6 Illinoisans dependent on food stamps

1 in 6 Illinoisans dependent on food stamps

The number of Illinoisans enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, remained above 2 million in July. This is the 10th month in a row enrollment has exceeded 2 million, or one-sixth of Illinoisans. And the number of Illinoisans who seem permanently stuck on government assistance is growing larger. Illinois puts more people...

By John Klingner

Illinois’ unemployment rate stalled at 9.2 percent

Illinois’ unemployment rate stalled at 9.2 percent

The delay in unemployment reports due to the federal government shutdown has not changed Illinois’ overall gloomy jobs picture. Unemployment is still high in many cities across the state. According to the latest seasonally adjusted unemployment numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, half of Illinois’ Metropolitan Statistical Areas, or MSAs, had unemployment rates...

By John Klingner

Disappearance of Illinois’ manufacturing sector

Disappearance of Illinois’ manufacturing sector

It’s hard not to notice the disappearance of Illinois’ manufacturing sector. Anyone driving through the outskirts of Peoria can witness the closed buildings and half-abandoned neighborhoods. Cities all across Illinois have seen a similar story unfold. Illinois’ manufacturing base has been in decline, losing over 130,000 manufacturing jobs in the past decade. Even during the...

By Justin Hegy

Disappearance of Illinois’ manufacturing sector

Disappearance of Illinois’ manufacturing sector

It’s hard not to notice the disappearance of Illinois’ manufacturing sector. Anyone driving through the outskirts of Peoria can witness the closed buildings and half-abandoned neighborhoods. Cities all across Illinois have seen a similar story unfold. Illinois’ manufacturing base has been in decline, losing over 130,000 manufacturing jobs in the past decade. Even during the past...

By Justin Hegy

Illinois’ ‘weak management practices’ land it low on Forbes’ list of best states for business

Illinois’ ‘weak management practices’ land it low on Forbes’ list of best states for business

Forbes released this week its Best States for Business 2013 index. Illinois held onto its 2012 rank of the 38th-best state for business. The study scores all 50 states using 35 data points that are boiled down to six main categories. Illinois’ ranks generally fall in the mid-to high-30s out of the 50 states, with the exception its...

By Benjamin VanMetre

Illinois: nation’s 2nd-highest unemployment rate for sixth straight month

Illinois: nation’s 2nd-highest unemployment rate for sixth straight month

ix months ago, Illinois overtook California to become the state with the second-highest unemployment rate in the nation, behind only Nevada. It hasn’t budged since. Today’s release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics details yet another month of stalled unemployment numbers for Illinois. The state’s August unemployment rate remained at 9.2 percent – 1.9 percentage...

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

Illinois August unemployment rate remains stalled at 9.2%

Illinois August unemployment rate remains stalled at 9.2%

Tomorrow, Illinois is likely to celebrate its six-month anniversary of having the second-highest unemployment rate in the nation. That’s when the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS, releases its Regional and State Employment and Unemployment report for August. In the meantime, the Illinois Department of Employment Security, or IDES, pre-released some of the BLS data...

By John Klingner

Illinois and Chicago riddled with bad economic policy

Illinois and Chicago riddled with bad economic policy

Illinois and Chicago are riddled with many regulations, laws and licensing requirements that are unnecessary and anti-growth in nature. Politicians often claim to pass these laws in pursuit of a favorable business climate; but the result is often the opposite. Illinois’ economy is struggling. The state has the second-highest unemployment rate in the nation at 9.2...

By Justin Hegy

Pizza with a purpose

Pizza with a purpose

Dimitri has found that investing in good people makes the difference in an industry where the customer experience matters.

By Hilary Gowins