Illinois’ new initial unemployment claims remain high

By Orphe Divounguy, Jon Josko

06/11/2020

New jobless claims remain several times higher than last year as state begins to test re-opening.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, jobs, recession, unemployment

Unemployment claims exceed 1.15 million as Illinois heads into 10th week of lockdown

By Bryce Hill

05/28/2020

Nearly 1 in 4 Illinoisans find themselves out of work, more than all border states except Kentucky.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, JB Pritzker, unemployment

Illinois’ new jobless claims remain high, push total since COVID-19 to nearly 1.1M

By Bryce Hill

05/21/2020

Self-employed and gig workers were finally allowed to file for benefits last week, driving the total to nearly 1.1 million Illinoisans seeking help since COVID-19 hit the state’s economy.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, JB Pritzker, unemployment

More than 1 million Illinoisans out of work since COVID-19

By Bryce Hill

05/14/2020

The state’s unemployment rate continues to soar as joblessness hits more than 1 in 5 workers.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, JB Pritzker, unemployment

Pritzker threatens to use state police against businesses reopening early

By Ben Szalinski

05/13/2020

Polling has found the vast majority of Illinoisans support reopening small retail businesses.

TAGS: coronavirus, covid, economy, executive order, illinois state police, JB Pritzker, reopen

3-in-4 Illinoisans support reopening small businesses immediately

By Ben Szalinski, Brad Weisenstein

05/13/2020

Small businesses have struggled since their doors were forced to close March 21. A new poll shows 75% of Illinoisans want them to be allowed to reopen now.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, executive order, JB Pritzker, reopen, small business

4 problems with Pritzker’s reopening plan

By Amy Korte

05/11/2020

‘Restore Illinois’ is short on details about when and how Illinoisans can get back to work.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, executive order, JB Pritzker, reopen

Illinois’ economy shrinking by more than $183M per day as state approaches 1M new jobless claims

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Jon Josko

05/07/2020

COVID-19 and measures to contain the disease have resulted in unemployment that’s over 50% higher than the worst months of the Great Recession.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, GDP: gross domestic product, recession, unemployment

Pritzker should look to other states to develop a responsible reopening plan

By Amy Korte

05/01/2020

Uncertainty is amplifying the difficulty of the COVID-19 crisis, and Illinoisans need information on what a safe reopening will look like.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, executive order, small business

Stunning data show Illinois economy stalled out before COVID-19 pandemic

By Austin Berg

04/02/2020

The last thing Illinois needs is more bad news for the sake of it. But ignoring this reality threatens to make this crisis worse.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, unemployment