CHICAGO (June 25, 2020) – A study ranking Illinois’ reopening plan for bars and restaurants the second harshest in the nation comes as the state has lost 233,500 jobs, or 44%, of those in the accommodation and food service industry. This comes as Illinois begins entering Phase 4 of its reopening plan, which only allows bars and restaurants to operate at a limited capacity until there is a vaccine to protect against COVID-19.U.S. Department of Labor data show 46,005 Illinoisans filed for unemployment in the week ending June 20, bringing the total new jobless claims to 1,335,433 million since COVID-19 started impacting Illinois’ economy.

Illinois Policy Institute analysis shows the state’s raw jobless claims remain nearly five times higher than normal each week.

Orphe Divounguy, chief economist at the nonpartisan Illinois Policy Institute, offered the following statement:  

“Limiting operations for Illinois’ food service industry until, or if, there is a vaccine is unsustainable. That will only make a large number of temporary job losses permanent for the people already hurt the most. Gov. J.B. Pritzker should re-examine ways to mitigate negative economic effects related to the virus lockdowns and identify opportunities for these small businesses to have more latitude in operating.”

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