Newly released Illinois jobs report points to anemic jobs growth and a contracting labor force.

February saw the worst WARN report in seven months, with nearly 250 of the jobs lost coming from the manufacturing sector.

Illinois had the highest black unemployment rate of any state at the end of 2016, holding that distinction for six consecutive quarters, according to analysis by the Economic Policy Institute. The Land of Lincoln also has the largest gap between its white and black unemployment rates.

Numbers from the January 2017 Illinois WARN report show most of the mass layoffs were in the service industry.

Illinois continues to have the worst jobs growth in the region, and tax hikes will only make matters worse.

With Peoria and downstate reeling, the Caterpillar move comes at a time of persistent disinvestment in Illinois manufacturing.

Illinois lost 11,000 manufacturing jobs in 2016.

Due to fiscal crises, both state and local governments are asking more and more from the same taxpayers – encouraging many of them to leave instead.