Everything you need to know about Illinois unemployment

By Brad Weisenstein

05/15/2021

The Illinois Department of Employment Security was ill-prepared to handle record numbers of unemployed workers when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, was slow to distribute federal help, exposed Illinoisans' private information, then lefts thousands on hold awaiting answers. Here's the latest.

TAGS: IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, JB Pritzker, jobs, labor, taxes, unemployment

Illinois’ unemployment pain hits all regions as recovery lags Midwest

By Bryce Hill

04/22/2021

Illinois’ unemployment rate remains the highest in the Midwest despite March jobs growth. Unemployment is high across the state compared to the region.

TAGS: COVID-19, jobs, recession, restrictions, unemployment

Illinois’ economy recovering, but continues to lag rest of Midwest

By Bryce Hill

04/16/2021

Illinois’ unemployment rate remains the highest in the Midwest despite March jobs growth

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois, JB Pritzker, jobs, unemployment

35% of Illinois’ small businesses are closed a year into COVID-19 restrictions

By Bryce Hill

03/29/2021

More small businesses have closed in Illinois than in any other Midwestern state, except Michigan. Taxing them more as they struggle is the wrong move.

TAGS: COVID-19, jobs, lockdown, small business, unemployment

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

Black Illinoisans twice as likely to have lost jobs in 2020

By Bryce Hill

03/15/2021

Revised figures show 2020 job losses were worse for Black Illinoisans than originally thought. The worst year of job losses in state history disproportionately affected minority Illinoisans.

TAGS: COVID-19, jobs, restrictions, unemployment

Another bump up for Illinois’ new unemployment claims

By Brad Weisenstein

03/04/2021

Illinois saw new unemployment claims rise for a third week, even as nearly 3 million COVID-19 vaccinations have been given to Illinoisans.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, jobs, unemployment

Illinois unemployment is again on the rise as Pritzker proposes business taxes

By Brad Weisenstein

02/25/2021

Unemployment claims bumped up for a second week in Illinois as Gov. J.B. Pritzker decided to push for 9 new taxes, mostly hitting businesses and job creation. Illinois ranked 49th for recovery last week.

TAGS: budget, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, jobs, labor, taxes, unemployment

Illinois’ poorest hit hardest by COVID-19 job loss, many still unemployed

By Bryce Hill

02/19/2021

Illinois households earning less than $40,000 were four-times as likely to lose their jobs from February-April 2020 and nearly 11 times as likely to still be out of work compared to those earning $75,000 or more.

TAGS: COVID-19, jobs, lockdown, unemployment

Illinois unemployment claims double after several weeks of improvement

By Brad Weisenstein

02/18/2021

While the nation gets back to work, Illinois unemployment claims rose again. The past week ranked Illinois 50th out of 51, including Washington, D.C.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois, unemployment