Illinois unemployment problems hidden by workforce dropout
Illinois unemployment problems hidden by workforce dropout
Over the recession era, Indiana’s workforce grew by 53,000 people while Illinois’ workforce shrank by 200,000 people. If Illinois’ workforce size were benchmarked to Indiana’s over the recession era, Illinois’ unemployment rate would be 10.3 percent today.
By Michael Lucci
How occupational licensing blocks path to success for ex-offenders
How occupational licensing blocks path to success for ex-offenders
Nearly 2 in 5 workers in the U.S. need government permission just to do their jobs.
By Bryant Jackson-Green
Pew study blows hole in myth that Illinois has a revenue problem
Pew study blows hole in myth that Illinois has a revenue problem
Tax revenues in Illinois are up 22.5 percent over pre-recession highs, while 30 other states are collecting less tax revenue today than they were before the recession began.
By Michael Lucci
Good government bill could mark turning point in statewide transparency
Good government bill could mark turning point in statewide transparency
HB 2717 would give taxpayers access to spending and decision-making documents
By Heather Weiner
Blue steel: Illinois’ manufacturing exodus continues
Blue steel: Illinois’ manufacturing exodus continues
Workers’ compensation costs are killing Illinois steel.
By Austin Berg
The shockingly bad fiscal health of Chicago (and the financial engineering used to hide it)
The shockingly bad fiscal health of Chicago (and the financial engineering used to hide it)
State lawmakers and the city of Chicago owe taxpayers an honest assessment. It's a sad state of affairs when we have to get that assessment from a bond guru in Kentucky.
Labor-union membership in Illinois: Public vs. private
Labor-union membership in Illinois: Public vs. private
Only 10 percent of private-sector workers in Illinois belong to a union. But over half of public-sector workers are unionized.
By Naomi Lopez Bauman
Lake County shortchanged by Local Government Distributive Fund
Lake County shortchanged by Local Government Distributive Fund
Lake County gets back just 73 cents for every dollar it pays into the LGDF.
By Naomi Lopez Bauman