Illinois experiencing 5 times the typical job loss since COVID-19 hit the state’s economy

June 11, 2020

Illinois saw the nation’s 8th highest raw unemployment claims for the past four weeks.

PRESS RELEASE from the
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE

MEDIA CONTACT: Rachel Wittel (312) 607-4977

Illinois experiencing 5 times the typical job loss since COVID-19 hit the state’s economy
Illinois saw the nation’s 8th highest raw unemployment claims for the past four weeks
CHICAGO (June 11, 2020) – As 44,814 more Illinoisans filed for unemployment in the week ending June 6, the state’s raw jobless claims remain five times higher than normal each week. According to Illinois Policy Institute analysis, Illinois saw the nation’s eighth highest raw unemployment claims for the past four weeks.

That brings Illinois’ total new jobless claims to 1.24 million since COVID-19 started impacting Illinois’ economy. Nearly 1 in 4 Illinoisans have lost their jobs since then.

Illinois weekly initial unemployment claims pass 1.24M
Orphe Divounguy, chief economist at the nonpartisan Illinois Policy Institute, offered the following statement:  

“We’re starting to see the negative effects of Illinois’ slow transition to fully reopening the economy on the state’s overall unemployment claims each week. The longer we delay, the more likely we are to suffer a prolonged, deeper contraction.

“The latest U.S. jobs data suggest only one-eighth of all jobs lost across the nation were regained in May, and we still don’t know how many of these losses will become permanent.”

To read more about the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Illinois’ jobs, visit: illin.is/covidjobless.

For bookings or interviews, contact media@illinoispolicy.org or (312) 607-4977.