Although Hispanics were one of the groups hardest hit by pandemic-related job losses, 85,000 more Hispanic Illinoisans were employed in December 2021 compared to December 2019. Hispanic women are driving their recovery.
Illinois’ employment recovery continued in January, but the state remains far from a full recovery and still lags the nation.
Black workers in Illinois face much higher unemployment rates than other Black workers in the nation and than their white peers in Illinois. Investing in MAP grants rather than spending more on public pensions could make a difference.
Employment in nearly all of Illinois’ major industries are still lagging other states two years after the initial COVID-19 shutdowns rocked the economy.
Revisions show Illinois added 17,400 more jobs in 2021 than previously thought, but the state’s recovery still significantly lags the U.S. recovery rate.
Illinois reported the largest outmigration of residents of any state during 2021, marking the 8th consecutive year of population decline in Illinois. Chicago similarly saw more residents move away than any metropolitan area in the nation.
During the past two years, about 80 Illinoisans shared how the COVID-19 pandemic was changing their lives, children’s educations and businesses. Here is how some of them have come through the pandemic, both those who thrived and those who lost.
"If I wouldn’t have done what I did I wouldn’t even be in business today.”
"“I’m trying to rebuild our bar business, but it’s been difficult to compete with neighboring towns that have fewer mandates, and there is more competition popping up in the area."
“The shutdowns definitely hurt the city in taxes. When people don’t spend money at local businesses, towns are losing money that would have been taxable.”
“My income decreased substantially due to the pandemic because I have a couple vacancies, and I readjusted rent for some of my tenants. Even though I have less income than before the pandemic, my taxes keep increasing.”
“As a business owner, I think the pandemic responses were too built within the bureaucracy of the system of government, which is has too many layers to get necessary approvals. In a state of emergency, you cannot have that.”
"We lost more than $500,000 and now we’re trying to bring back the business by changing our menus and recontacting those same people. Now we’re just trying to survive.”
"We're very fortunate that we're still standing. And we're very proud because we really love our customers. And we're here to serve.