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552K Illinoisans getting or seeking unemployment benefits a year into COVID-19

By Brad Weisenstein
03/18/2021
A year into COVID-19 and 552,000 Illinois workers are still in need of jobs. Despite that, Gov. J.B. Pritzker is asking for as much as $2 billion in new taxes on the small businesses that create most Illinois jobs.

TAGS: COVID-19, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, JB Pritzker, jobs, unemployment

More Illinoisans collect unemployment as nation recovers

By Brad Weisenstein
01/08/2021
Bans on indoor dining and bar service continue to hurt Illinois jobs numbers, placing the state low in a national recovery ranking.

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

Illinois government saw too many make ‘naughty’ list in 2020

By Brad Weisenstein
12/22/2020
COVID-19 showed everyone the heroes in health care and essential services, but it also exposed weak character or bad behavior of many in Illinois government.

TAGS: Christmas, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan

Illinois loses 27,400 hospitality sector jobs in November amid indoor dining ban

By Bryce Hill
12/18/2020
Illinois’ jobs numbers have slipped for the second time in the past three months as the rest of the nation steadily recovers.

TAGS: COVID-19, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, JB Pritzker, jobs, recession

Illinois unemployment claims approaching COVID-19 lockdown levels

By Brad Weisenstein
12/17/2020
New unemployment claims are rising in Illinois, hitting 142,745 last week as COVID-19 restrictions continue.

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

Illinois loses 1,100 jobs in October, unemployment rate falls largely from workers giving up

By Bryce Hill
11/20/2020
Jobs data is giving the illusion of economic recovery in Illinois. The reality is 107,530 workers gave up their job searches, and new COVID-19 lockdowns can only hurt more workers.

TAGS: COVID-19, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, income tax, JB Pritzker, jobs, pensions, unemployment

Illinois unemployment benefits stolen as state fails to implement basic security

By Joe Barnas
08/21/2020
The Illinois Department of Employment Security troubles included scores of unemployed unable to get benefits, nearly 32,500 Social Security numbers exposed and now benefits theft. A simple fix used by many online retailers could have prevented the thefts.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, JB Pritzker, recession

Monthly jobs report fails to show depth of Illinois job losses

By Bryce Hill
08/20/2020
IDES estimated unemployment rate remains artificially low because it fails to count nearly 238,000 Illinoisans who have given up trying to find a job.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, jobs

Pritzker could have saved nearly 32,000 jobs during COVID-19 downturn

By Bryce Hill
08/13/2020
Illinois is the largest state without a short-time compensation plan, increasing the chances nearly 32,000 job losses will be permanent.

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

Illinois’ economy likely shrank by $86 billion during Q2, national data suggests

By Bryce Hill
08/06/2020
Data published last week by the Bureau of Economic Analysis revealed that U.S. gross domestic product shrank at an annualized rate of -32.9% during the second quarter.

TAGS: COVID-19, executive order, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, JB Pritzker, jobs, recession

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Budget + Tax / Research Report

Illinois Forward 2022: COVID-19 makes pension reform imperative to protecting taxpayers, services for vulnerable Illinoisans


Illinois has a chance to fix its state finances, thanks to federal relief. But unless pension growth is brought under control, both retirees and taxpayers will be at risk as debt continues to consume state services.

View Report

Report Archive

Education / Your Story

Brigette Barber

Jobs + Growth / Policy Point

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

By J. Scott Moody, Wendy Warcholik
07/07/2014
Illinois Policy In the News

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students

By Ted Dabrowski
05/02/2016

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Illinois' comeback story starts here