Caterpillar Inc. closing 5 plants, cutting 670 jobs
Caterpillar Inc. closing 5 plants, cutting 670 jobs
The East Peoria, Ill., plant will be the hardest hit, losing 230 jobs for office and production workers. As neighboring states grow factory work, Illinois is approaching an all-time low for manufacturing jobs.
By Austin Berg
Pennsylvania close to passing Illinois as 5th-largest state in U.S. for jobs and population
Pennsylvania close to passing Illinois as 5th-largest state in U.S. for jobs and population
Unlike Illinois, Pennsylvania has actually recovered the number of jobs it lost during the Great Recession, and now has 40,000 more jobs than it had at its pre-recession peak. Illinois, on the other hand, still has 90,000 fewer jobs than it had before the recession, the worst jobs recovery in the U.S.
By Michael Lucci
Illinois only state among neighboring and Great Lake states to lose jobs in 2015
Illinois only state among neighboring and Great Lake states to lose jobs in 2015
Illinois lost 3,000 jobs on net in 2015, while other neighboring and Great Lakes manufacturing states all gained tens of thousands of jobs on net for the year.
By Michael Lucci
Illinois employers give warnings of at least 500 layoffs
Illinois employers give warnings of at least 500 layoffs
Illinois businesses gave notice of impending layoffs in December as the state ended 2015 with fewer jobs than it had at the start of the year.
By Austin Berg
Illinois lost 16,300 jobs on net in December 2015, down 3,000 jobs on the year
Illinois lost 16,300 jobs on net in December 2015, down 3,000 jobs on the year
The state unemployment rate jumped to 5.9 percent from 5.7 percent, driven by an increase of 18,300 Illinoisans who are unemployed. Illinois also has 178,000 fewer people working compared to before the Great Recession.
By Michael Lucci
Al Panico
Al Panico
I have a loyalty to my company and my people because they’ve been loyal to me and the company for many, many years.
Bankruptcy talk hits Chicago: Illinois governor proposes bankruptcy for Chicago Public Schools
Bankruptcy talk hits Chicago: Illinois governor proposes bankruptcy for Chicago Public Schools
Gov. Bruce Rauner and Republican state lawmakers have proposed bankruptcy for Chicago Public Schools; Mayor Rahm Emanuel has rejected the idea of bankruptcy, repeating his demand that Illinois taxpayers bail out the struggling school district.
Emanuel cracks down on Airbnb through new tax and regulations
Emanuel cracks down on Airbnb through new tax and regulations
Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s proposed 2 percent tax and new regulations would harm Chicagoans trying to make ends meet by renting out space in their homes, as well as tourists looking for less expensive lodging.
Illinois became less competitive after Blagojevich’s 2005 workers’ compensation bill
Illinois became less competitive after Blagojevich’s 2005 workers’ compensation bill
This blog is the fifth part of a series that explores Illinois’ workers’ compensation system, the state’s inadequate reforms, and opportunities policymakers should seize now to make the system less costly and more effective for employers and workers alike.
By Michael Lucci
What’s driving the Illinois exodus? Census data point to jobs, housing
What’s driving the Illinois exodus? Census data point to jobs, housing
More than two-thirds of people moving far from their home state said employment or housing drove their decision.
By Austin Berg
Illinois is unprepared for the next recession
Illinois is unprepared for the next recession
Sky-high debt and a meager rainy day fund make Illinois the second-least prepared state in the U.S. for its capacity to weather a recession.
By Ted Dabrowski
Illinois ended 2015 down 14,500 manufacturing jobs, closing in on an all-time low for factory work
Illinois ended 2015 down 14,500 manufacturing jobs, closing in on an all-time low for factory work
Illinois’ manufacturing job losses accelerated in 2015, while most neighboring and Great Lakes states continued to post gains in factory jobs.
By Michael Lucci
New year, outta here: Another Illinois manufacturer seeks refuge in Indiana
New year, outta here: Another Illinois manufacturer seeks refuge in Indiana
Enjoy Life Foods plans to move its lone Illinois manufacturing facility and up to 150 jobs to southern Indiana this year.
By Austin Berg
2011 workers’ compensation reform
2011 workers’ compensation reform
Part 3 of Illinois’ broken workers’ compensation system: the major components of the 2011 reform
By Mark Adams