The most optimistic forecast shows 20% of Illinois’ food service business closures will be permanent. But up to 85% of restaurants expect to close permanently.
Illinois’ second minimum wage increase this year is part of a plan to hit $15 an hour in 2025. Small businesses face tough decisions on cutting staff or raising prices.
A study from WalletHub ranks Illinois 50th-most severe on COVID-19 restrictions on bars and restaurants. 233,500 jobs were lost in that sector since February.
Unemployment claims remain five times higher than normal, but the nation’s second-harshest restaurant restrictions have hit that job sector hardest.
“It’s a spider web of things. They don’t realize how much this all affects everything. They don’t realize every July 1st the gas tax goes up. Eventually it’s going to affect my business."
While May’s jobs report showed what could be the beginning of a bounce back in total employment for the state, growth was concentrated primarily among white workers. Black and Hispanic workers were left behind.
“There are not many stores open in downtown Springfield. With the few that are open, we’re thinking if this continues, will we survive it?"
Up to 130,000 Illinois homeowners could fall behind on their mortgage payments if state lawmakers fail to provide relief.
“Everybody is essential as far as I’m concerned. If one section of our community fails, the whole community fails."
"The governor needed to reach out more to small businesses because that’s mainly the backbone of our country."
New jobless claims remain several times higher than last year as state begins to test re-opening.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan has been met with widespread criticism. One suburban mayor publicly assailed Pritzker’s inconsistencies for hurting the economy.
“My employees are starving, so do they feel safe? I try to make them feel as safe as we possibly can. I believe they feel nervous…. I know they’re nervous. I’m nervous."
“I quit my job in the beginning of March and was supposed to start a new job a week later. The start date was March 16, and because of COVID-19 I never started the job. “It’s been 12 weeks since I requested assistance and it’s still up in the air. I have not been able...