A major library supplier formerly employing 1,500 will cease operations at the end of the year, laying off 318 workers in October at its Momence distribution center.

Illinois saw 1,782 mass layoffs in June. Two merged Chicago job search firms, Monster and CareerBuilder, is sending 390 workers searching for new jobs.

Despite Illinois experiencing job growth in some sectors, it remains one of the states with the highest unemployment rates. It’s been that way for 66 of the 77 months J.B. Pritzker has been governor thanks to high taxes and too much state spending.

Illinois companies announced 1,477 mass layoffs during May. The highest concentration of cuts impacted Champaign after one of the state’s largest health insurers, Health Alliance, announced it would end coverage and halt operations.

Illinois companies announced 947 mass layoffs in March. All but 21 of the job cuts were permanent.

Illinois companies announced 1,666 mass layoffs in February, with more than 4-in-5 impacting workers in Cook County. Schaumburg alone accounted for one-third of job losses.

Liquor regulations written at the end of Prohibition are strangling Illinois’ craft distillers. A new bill is trying to change that.

Illinois continues to maintain a sluggish job market and high unemployment. The December unemployment rate was third highest in the nation, where it has remained for months.