Since 2020, 84% of Illinois communities have lost population. Small towns were hit hardest by population declines in 2024, while Chicago’s migrant crisis helped offset people choosing to leave.
The Illinois Senate is considering a bill to allow dental students to practice under supervision with temporary licenses. Two-thirds of Illinois counties have a dentist shortage.
Illinois companies announced 947 mass layoffs in March. All but 21 of the job cuts were permanent.
Unemployment in Illinois remains stubbornly high. February’s unemployment rate was the fifth highest in the nation at 4.8%.
State politicians might eliminate the tipped minimum wage, putting tipped workers on the $15 per hour wage. But with higher wages come higher costs for businesses, which could raise prices or cut jobs.
Illinois’ job market continued to struggle in January as the national economy grew. The job troubles were seen in eight of Illinois’ 13 metropolitan areas, with Champaign-Urbana hit the hardest.
Illinois’ job market struggles continued with almost 50,000 more unemployed workers than there were job openings in January – the fifth-worst ratio in the nation.
Illinois’ unemployment improved somewhat in January. It ranked fifth highest in the nation after being third highest for months.
Illinois lawmakers are considering new rules for buying and selling tickets to sporting events and concerts, including a cap on resale prices and fees.
Chicagoland’s population has been boosted by international migrants in recent years. But 347,000 residents left for other states since April 2020.
While Illinois’ total population grew slightly last year, many areas of the state experienced population decline. People moved out of state from half the counties.
Illinois companies announced 1,666 mass layoffs in February, with more than 4-in-5 impacting workers in Cook County. Schaumburg alone accounted for one-third of job losses.
Liquor regulations written at the end of Prohibition are strangling Illinois’ craft distillers. A new bill is trying to change that.
Illinois continues to lose residents to other states. Another Illinoisan left every 9 minutes and 21 seconds from July 2023 to June 2024.