Jobs + Growth

Workers’ compensation estimated to cost Illinois taxpayers nearly $1 billion per year

Workers’ compensation is a significant cost to Illinois taxpayers and drains scarce tax dollars from government coffers. A previous report in this series estimated the direct cost of workers’ compensation to state, county and municipal governments is $402 million in worker payouts per year.1 Building upon those findings, this report estimates that the total cost of workers’ compensation to...

By Michael Lucci

Wisconsin and Indiana hit new all-time highs for number of people working

In the last decade, Illinois’ economy and the economies of neighboring states have gone in opposite directions, with more people now working in Wisconsin and Indiana combined.

By Michael Lucci

Caterpillar to shutter Aurora plant, cut 800 jobs

The company’s announcement affects 800 hourly employees, though 1,200 workers will remain in Aurora. In January, Caterpillar announced plans to relocate its global headquarters to Chicago and out of its longtime hub in Peoria.

By Hilary Gowins

SB 1288 could chip away at Illinois’ crony liquor laws

A bill in the Illinois Senate would provide certain alcohol producers some freedom within the state’s three-tier system – which has been maintained through measures limiting competition and benefiting the politically connected.

Prestige Metals to move from Illinois to Wisconsin

The small sheet metal fabricator will move from its current facility in Antioch, Ill., to an 8-acre location in Bristol, Wis.

By Brendan Bakala

Illinois has hurt its economy by piling on taxes since the Great Recession

State and local tax hikes in Illinois have hurt economic growth, lowered the standard of living, and contributed to out-migration.

By Michael Lucci

Illinois has unusually strong jobs growth in February

In February 2017 Illinois surpassed its previous jobs peak from September 2000. However, long-term problems could potentially hamstring further jobs growth if left unaddressed.

By Michael Lucci

Rudy Barrera

“I work in the assembly department, basically I assemble the trucks. I’ve been with the company four years. “Originally I’m from Mexico. I grew up over there until I was 13. I came to Chicago, lived in the city until 2001. It was OK. I lived with my parents in an apartment. I went to...

Haribo to open gummy bear plant in Wisconsin

While the gummy bear maker’s American headquarters is located in Rosemont, Haribo has opted to build right over the border in Kenosha County, Wisc.

By Brendan Bakala

Cook County has largest population loss of any county in the U.S.

Newly released census data show 89 of Illinois’ 102 counties, and most of the state’s metro areas, have shrinking populations due to out-migration.

By Michael Lucci

Bill Roberts

“I thought I would never go back into a factory job. “Because where [Hoist Liftruck] started out in Bedford Park, I was there when I was 18 years old with a different outfit. And it was weird that I went back … right back into busting knuckles again. “It’s a lot cheaper in Indiana. Everything’s...

A simple workers’ comp fix could save lives

Physician-dispensed drugs account for more than 60 percent of the cost of prescriptions covered by workers’ comp in Illinois.

By Austin Berg

Lawmakers and special interests propose revamped EDGE tax credit program

As state debts mount and budget plans remain in limbo, Illinois lawmakers move to expand EDGE tax credits.

By Brendan Bakala

Jim Work

“I’m a case study in who you don’t want leaving the state. “I grew up in Wheaton and went to college for accounting at NIU, but I was working in construction the whole time. It was so much better than the typical minimum wage job you get to pay for tuition. You could work outside,...