Caterpillar announces it will add 600 jobs to new Arizona facility

By Hilary Gowins

05/04/2016

Caterpillar’s plans to bring new jobs to Arizona demonstrate how Illinois politicians’ planned tax hikes and failure to make needed regulatory reforms harm the state’s manufacturing sector.

TAGS: jobs, manufacturing, workers compensation

Unemployment 101: How to understand an Illinois jobs report

By Michael Lucci

04/15/2016

Monthly reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security allow the public to see Illinois’ record for job creation and unemployment. Understanding the components of the reports, what they measure, and the significance of the data are key to assessing the state’s economic health.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, jobs, unemployment

Preliminary jobs report: Illinois gains 14,700 jobs in March

By Hilary Gowins

04/14/2016

Illinois gained 14,700 jobs on net in March, according to a preliminary jobs report released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security, or IDES. March’s numbers mark three consecutive months of jobs growth in a state that had grown all too accustomed to job losses. More and more Illinoisans are looking for work – and...

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

Illinois employers report 900 layoffs, including continued losses in manufacturing

04/14/2016

Illinois’ March layoff report shows that almost a quarter of the 900 Illinoisans who will lose their jobs are manufacturing workers.

TAGS: jobs, WARN

Illinois professionals can now renew their licenses online

By Amy Korte

04/13/2016

Switching to an electronic system from a paper-based licensing program is expected to save taxpayers millions of dollars over the next few years – as well as provide better and faster service for the state’s licensed professionals.

TAGS: jobs, occupational licensing

The fall of Illinois manufacturing

By Austin Berg

04/07/2016

illinois manufacturing hoist liftruck marty flaska

Since the state's recession bottom, Illinois has regained less than 5 percent of its manufacturing jobs — the worst rate of recovery among all neighboring states.

TAGS: jobs, manufacturing, workers compensation

How business-liability reform can help encourage ex-offender employment

By Bryant Jackson-Green

04/07/2016

With the right liability reforms, Illinois can protect businesses and make them more likely to give ex-offenders a chance at employment.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, jobs

Ex-offenders need to work to stay out of the system – but Illinois’ occupational-licensing rules keep many out of careers

By Bryant Jackson-Green

04/06/2016

To get ex-offenders back to work and reduce crime, Illinois needs to lift restrictions on the right to earn a living .

TAGS: criminal justice reform, jobs, licensing, occupational licensing

Preliminary jobs report: Illinois adds 18,100 jobs in February

By Hilary Gowins

03/24/2016

Illinois has finally recovered from the job losses suffered during the Great Recession, and its workforce continues to grow. But the state’s unemployment rate is also increasing, signaling that while the economy is recovering, it is still unable to meet the demands of a growing number of job seekers.

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

3 reasons why Illinois should reduce occupational-licensing requirements

03/16/2016

By reducing the licensing requirements that make it harder for people to enter many professions, Illinois could give more people access to jobs, bring down the cost of goods and services through increased competition, and attract more workers to the state.

TAGS: jobs, licensing, occupational licensing, unemployment

jobs

Caterpillar announces it will add 600 jobs to new Arizona facility

Unemployment 101: How to understand an Illinois jobs report

Preliminary jobs report: Illinois gains 14,700 jobs in March

Illinois employers report 900 layoffs, including continued losses in manufacturing

Illinois professionals can now renew their licenses online

The fall of Illinois manufacturing

How business-liability reform can help encourage ex-offender employment

Ex-offenders need to work to stay out of the system – but Illinois’ occupational-licensing rules keep many out of careers

Preliminary jobs report: Illinois adds 18,100 jobs in February

3 reasons why Illinois should reduce occupational-licensing requirements

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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