Before COVID-19 downturn, Illinois saw shrinking payrolls and nation’s worst loss of manufacturing jobs

By Bryce Hill

03/31/2020

New data show Illinois lost private sector jobs amid a national economic expansion for the first year on record in 2019, a sign of the state’s deep structural problems in the run-up to the current market downturn.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, coronavirus, COVID-19, economic growth, employment, jobs, labor force participation rate, unemployment

Suburban mayor opposes adding 1,500 jobs as Illinois struggles with employment

By Ben Szalinski

02/24/2020

Amazon bought the old commercial property, but Bolingbrook’s mayor opposes putting 1,500 jobs on it. Illinois’ job growth was below the national average in 2019.

TAGS: Amazon, Bolingbrook, economic growth, employment, JB Pritzker, jobs, labor force participation rate, Roger Claar, unemployment, zoning

Pritzker claims statewide economic growth, but these Illinois metro areas are shedding jobs

By Bryce Hill

02/10/2020

Despite Gov. J.B. Pritzker touting growth in “every major region,” Illinois shed jobs in three metropolitan areas and lagged the national average in seven more.

TAGS: Bloomington, BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, budget, Carbondale, Champaign, Chicago, constitutional amendment, economic competitiveness, economic growth, economics, economy, employment, fair tax, flat tax, government spending, graduated income tax, Great Recession, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, income growth, JB Pritzker, job creation, jobs, labor, Madison County, metro areas, Metro East, Moline, pensions, Peoria, population, progressive income tax, recession, Rockford, spending, spending cap, Springfield, St. Clair County, tax burden, tax hikes, tax increase, unemployment, Urbana, working-age

Illinois unemployment rate hits low despite tepid jobs growth

By illinoispolicy

10/28/2019

Illinois’ unemployment rate hit 3.9% in September – the first time in decades that the jobless rate went under 4%, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

TAGS: employment, jobs, unemployment

Illinois is more dependent on food stamps than any other neighboring state

08/23/2019

Illinois has a higher percentage of its residents on food stamps than its neighboring states, and has seen a much slower decline in food stamp recipients following the recession.

TAGS: employment, food stamps, jobs, SNAP, unemployment, welfare

Illinois ‘license to landscape’ bill is a pure protection racket

By Austin Berg

05/03/2019

Licensing should be the last resort. Instead, in the case of the landscape architects, it appears to be a grab for a different kind of green.

TAGS: employment, jobs, licensing, occupational licensing, unemployment

Illinois employment growth continues to lag the nation through the first quarter of 2019

By Bryce Hill

04/22/2019

Illinois’ total employment growth ranks 31st from December 2018 to March 2019. Continued population loss likely to follow poor job growth.

TAGS: employment, fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, jobs, outmigration, progressive income tax, taxes, U.S. Census Bureau, unemployment

Pritzker progressive tax may send oil transport business out of Illinois

By Brad Weisenstein

03/08/2019

Most business is mobile. Most of Illinois is close to another state. Add a progressive state income tax and watch businesses such as Piasa Motor Fuels cross the bridge to Missouri.

TAGS: employment, fair tax, income tax, jobs, outmigration, progressive income tax, taxes

Chrysler to cut nearly 1,400 Illinois jobs, add 6,500 in Michigan

By Vincent Caruso

03/01/2019

The Jeep Cherokee manufacturer plans to lay off nearly 1,400 workers at its Belvidere, Illinois, facility and invest $4.5 billion in a 6,500-job expansion in Michigan.

TAGS: employment, Fiat Chrysler, jobs, outmigration, progressive income tax, property taxes, regulations, taxes, unemployment

Illinois small business cuts 6 jobs immediately after $15 minimum wage hike

By Brad Weisenstein

02/19/2019

A vinyl graphics business in southwestern Illinois wasn’t planning to downsize. But the state’s $15 minimum wage hike has forced the owners to cut six jobs.

TAGS: employment, jobs, minimum wage, unemployment