Audit reveals Illinois lost nearly $2 billion to COVID-19 unemployment fraud

By Patrick Andriesen

06/17/2022

A state audit found the Illinois Department of Employment Security lost to fraud more than half of the $3.6 billion in federal COVID-19 dollars earmarked for out-of-work Illinoisans. The full scope of the unemployment fraud remains unknown.

TAGS: COVID-19, fraud, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security

8 Illinois metro areas fail to add jobs in April; just 1 recovers from pandemic

By Dom Moran

06/17/2022

Illinois’ overall job numbers continue to rise, but the recovery is spotty. Over half of the metropolitan areas failed to add jobs in April.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, employment, job creation, jobs

Illinois adds jobs in April, still missing 146,300 from pandemic

By Dom Moran

06/15/2022

Illinois’ employment recovery continued in April, but the state is still missing almost one in five jobs lost during the pandemic.

TAGS: COVID-19, employment, jobs, unemployment

Pritzker hands businesses $650M in taxes, fee hikes during pandemic

By Dylan Sharkey

06/13/2022

Since taking office, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has passed 24 tax and fee hikes worth $5.24 billion. Of that, $650 million directly targeted businesses as they fought through a pandemic economy.

TAGS: COVID-19, fees, JB Pritzker, taxes

Pandemic home values in Illinois rose at 3rd-slowest rate nationally

By Bryce Hill

06/08/2022

Illinois’ history of poor policy decisions left homeowners behind the pandemic era housing boom. Continuing the trend leaves homeowners more susceptible to future downturns.

TAGS: COVID-19, home values, Illinois

Illinois’ state policy choices boost threat from potential U.S. recession

By Orphe Divounguy, Ann Miller

05/27/2022

Illinois is already behind the national pandemic recovery. As the risk of recession increases, Illinoisans could fall farther behind.

TAGS: COVID-19, economic recovery, Illinois, recession

Longer public schools closed for pandemic, more students they lost

By Hannah Max

05/26/2022

New research shows remote learning spurred the enrollment declines plaguing public schools. Schools with more in-person instruction lost fewer students.

TAGS: COVID-19, public schools, teachers union

Illinois marks 10th month of job gains, but still missing 1-in-5 jobs

By Bryce Hill

05/12/2022

Illinois is steadily adding jobs lost during the COVID-19 economic downturn, but despite 10 months of gains the state recovery lags the nation. Some metropolitan areas are far behind where they were.

TAGS: COVID-19, economic recovery, jobs, unemployment

Illinois House to probe Pritzker failure to stop 36 veterans’ home deaths

By Dylan Sharkey

05/09/2022

The Pritzker Administration failed to respond despite 11 days of reports about a COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home, resulting in 36 deaths, according to a state audit. Now Illinois House members plan to probe the failings.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois Auditor General, Illinois Veterans' Home at LaSalle, JB Pritzker

Union power vote, population loss threaten Illinois’ labor market recovery

By Bryce Hill

04/28/2022

Key indicators show Illinois’ labor market could begin adding jobs faster than the national economy if population decline and Amendment 1 don’t derail the state’s trajectory.

TAGS: COVID-19, economic recovery, Illinois, jobs, unemployment