Revised data show Decatur added 400 jobs in 2017

By Austin Berg

04/07/2018

Revisions from the Bureau of Labor Statistics flipped Decatur’s jobs growth from negative to positive over the year, though the growth was meager.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, decatur, jobs, unemployment

Illinois metro areas yield slight jobs gain in January, but weak long-term trends persist

By Bryce Hill

03/16/2018

Combined jobs growth was slightly positive across Illinois’ metro areas in January. But only four metro areas have recovered the jobs they lost during the Great Recession.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs, unemployment

Illinois sees stagnant jobs growth, declining labor force in January

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

03/13/2018

Despite healthy jobs growth nationally, Illinoisans are desperate for work.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, income tax, jobs, labor force participation rate, progressive income tax, spending cap

Illinois last among neighbors, 42nd in the nation for jobs growth in 2017

By Bryce Hill

02/06/2018

Illinoisans have become accustomed to a state economy that lags behind those with better business climates.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment, jobs

Majority of Illinois metro areas lost jobs in September

By Orphe Divounguy

10/27/2017

The September metro jobs report follows statewide numbers that showed one of the worst months for payroll jobs since the Great Recession.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, jobs, prevailing wage, unemployment

Indignation, action needed on Illinois’ jobs crisis

By Austin Berg

08/31/2017

Until Illinois lawmakers get serious about economic growth, don’t expect the state’s jobs trend to get off the depressing path it’s been treading for years.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois General Assembly, jobs, property taxes, unemployment, workers compensation

BLS data show Illinois would have 250,000 more people working if it kept up with surrounding states

By Michael Lucci

06/21/2017

Illinois has been lagging behind the rest of the region over the last decade, and will continue to do so if the state doesn’t enact necessary economic reforms.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, jobs, unemployment

Illinois has the nation’s highest black unemployment rate

By Michael Lucci

05/20/2017

New Bureau of Labor Statistics data show Illinois’ black residents have an unemployment rate of 12.7 percent, more than double the state’s overall rate.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment, unemployment

BLS jobs report shows weak economy in Illinois, recovery in neighboring states

By Michael Lucci

04/24/2017

Illinois saw a 0.23 percent increase in jobs in the first quarter of 2017, the third-worst growth rate in the region.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, jobs, manufacturing, unemployment

Illinois’ employment drought and the oases next door

By Austin Berg

04/06/2017

There are 170,000 fewer people working in Illinois since before the Great Recession.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Great Recession, Indiana, IRS: Internal Revenue Service, manufacturing, outmigration, right to work, U.S. Census Bureau, unemployment, Wisconsin, workers compensation