Illinois Senate votes to revive EDGE business tax credit program

By Brendan Bakala

08/14/2017

House Bill 162 would bring back Illinois’ Economic Development for a Growing Economy tax credit program.

TAGS: cronyism, EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy, jobs, tax credits

Mattoon’s GE Lighting plant to have its final day of production

By Brendan Bakala

08/09/2017

The factory will close its doors after more than 70 years of making lighting components.

TAGS: jobs, manufacturing

Illinois’ July WARN report shows nearly 1,500 mass layoffs

By Brendan Bakala

08/09/2017

The collar counties were hit hardest by mass layoffs in July.

TAGS: jobs, unemployment, WARN

Navistar to cut production, 170 jobs from Melrose Park facility

By John Kristof

08/04/2017

Illinois’ manufacturing middle class continues to face somber news.

TAGS: jobs, manufacturing, Navistar

80% of Cook County municipalities have opted out of minimum wage, sick leave ordinances

By Amy Korte, Marianna Schmiesing

07/31/2017

The number of Cook County municipalities that have opted out of both ordinances has climbed to 107.

TAGS: Cook County, jobs, minimum wage

Illinois’ jobs growth worse than every neighboring state

By Austin Berg, Kevin Angell

07/28/2017

Illinois’ jobs growth over the past year was 40 percent slower than the national average, and lagged even further behind the average of neighboring states.

TAGS: IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, jobs, unemployment

Illinois unemployment rises slightly despite shrinking workforce

By Kevin Angell

07/22/2017

Illinois’ June jobs data show 4,300 more Illinoisans are unemployed and the state’s labor force is down 20,400 people.

TAGS: IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, jobs, unemployment

Amazon to open another Illinois location, creating up to 800 new jobs

By Robert Brutvan

07/18/2017

Amazon announced plans to open another Illinois shipping facility in Crest Hill, Ill., which is expected to create up to 800 jobs.

TAGS: Amazon, EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy, jobs

Metro area unemployment: Which states are in reverse? Spotlight Illinois

By Mike "Mish" Shedlock

07/13/2017

The U.S. unemployment rate is 4.4 percent, but unemployment varies widely among the nation’s 388 metro areas.

TAGS: jobs, unemployment

More than 50 municipalities have opted out of Cook County’s minimum wage hike, sick days mandate

By Amy Korte

06/26/2017

Municipal leaders have expressed concerns about the anti-competitive, job-killing effects of Cook County’s minimum wage increases and new sick leave law and are using home rule authority to exempt their communities from the requirements.

TAGS: Cook County, jobs, minimum wage, unemployment