CHICAGO (April 21, 2015) – Today, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released jobs data on Illinois that showed the following: Illinois’ workforce shrunk by more than 10,000 people in March, and a continued decline in the state’s manufacturing sector is hurting the state’s overall economic recovery. Today’s data release offers a more detailed look at the initial numbers released last week by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

In the manufacturing sector alone, the BLS reported that Illinois lost 600 jobs in March. This means that over the past three years, the state has lost 8,600 manufacturing jobs. Neighboring Michigan and Indiana both have seen significant increases in the manufacturing sector over the past few years, which indicates the severe need for pro-growth economic reform in Illinois.

The Illinois Policy Institute’s director of jobs and growth, Michael Lucci, issued the following statement on today’s federal jobs report:

“Illinois’ economy is still failing to provide the growth and stability that the state needs. All across the state, Illinoisans are losing their jobs because of layoffs and closings. Just last month, U.S. Steel Corp. in Granite City announced it will lay off more than 2,000 workers at the end of May. Today’s new economic numbers show that Illinois cannot afford to delay reform. Elected officials have begun to embrace positive changes such as reforming taxes and fees for entrepreneurs, embracing crowdfunding for businesses and abolishing the death tax. Local governments must follow suit. It’s time for local governments to embrace pro-growth reforms such as those proposed by the governor and business leaders, and to help put the state back on the right track.”

Highlights from today’s jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics include:

• In March 2015, Illinois had:
  • 10,100 fewer people working in the state than in February.
  • A loss of 1,800 payroll jobs.

• There are 236,000 fewer people working in Illinois today than when the Great Recession began.

• Since the summer of 2012, when Illinois’ manufacturing recovery peaked, Illinois has lost 8,600 manufacturing jobs. Meanwhile, over that same period, Michigan has gained 50,000 manufacturing jobs and Indiana has gained 29,400 manufacturing jobs.

Here are some economic reforms that state lawmakers and local government officials can enact to improve economic growth:

• Reform and reduce Illinois’ workers’ compensation costs. Illinois suffers from some of the highest workers’ compensation costs in the country.

• Embrace local Right-to-Work laws. All of Illinois’ neighboring states have a statewide or local Right-to-Work law, and Illinois has lost jobs to every one of those states.

• Enact a statewide property tax cap, and work on lowering local property tax burdens by reforming failing pension funds on the state and local level.

For interviews: Nathaniel Hamilton 312-346-5700 x202