Illinois has worst youth employment in Midwest, biggest drop amid COVID-19 pandemic

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Ben Szalinski

07/09/2020

With small businesses and seasonal attractions closed, most of Illinois’ youth find themselves spending a summer without a job. COVID-19 isn’t the only reason, however.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, recession, unemployment

Automatic state worker pay hikes, gas tax hike coming to Illinois July 1

By Brad Weisenstein

06/25/2020

How fair is it that some of the highest-paid state employees in the nation are getting a raise that must be funded by an economically wounded bunch of taxpayers?

TAGS: COVID-19, gas tax, government unions, lawmaker pay, unemployment

Illinois jobs are returning, but not for minority workers

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

06/18/2020

While May’s jobs report showed what could be the beginning of a bounce back in total employment for the state, growth was concentrated primarily among white workers. Black and Hispanic workers were left behind.

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

Illinois unemployment data breach leads to ID theft, class-action lawsuit claims

By Ben Szalinski

06/18/2020

The contractor who revamped Illinois’ unemployment system to handle self-employed workers is being sued. One of the nearly 32,500 applicants who had private information exposed said it was used to access her bank account.

TAGS: identity theft, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, JB Pritzker, unemployment

Illinois’ new initial unemployment claims remain high

By Orphe Divounguy, Jon Josko

06/11/2020

New jobless claims remain several times higher than last year as state begins to test re-opening.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, jobs, recession, unemployment

Illinois’ new unemployment claims remain high

By Bryce Hill

06/05/2020

New jobless claims remain several times higher than last year as state begins to test re-opening.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, jobs, unemployment

Unemployment claims exceed 1.15 million as Illinois heads into 10th week of lockdown

By Bryce Hill

05/28/2020

Nearly 1 in 4 Illinoisans find themselves out of work, more than all border states except Kentucky.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, JB Pritzker, unemployment

Illinois’ new jobless claims remain high, push total since COVID-19 to nearly 1.1M

By Bryce Hill

05/21/2020

Self-employed and gig workers were finally allowed to file for benefits last week, driving the total to nearly 1.1 million Illinoisans seeking help since COVID-19 hit the state’s economy.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, JB Pritzker, unemployment

Illinois’ struggling unemployment program to run out of money in May

By Adam Schuster

05/19/2020

As new claims overwhelm an unprepared and inefficient system, the state has been pre-approved for a $5 billion loan from the federal government to ensure benefits continue to be paid.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, unemployment

More than 1 million Illinoisans out of work since COVID-19

By Bryce Hill

05/14/2020

The state’s unemployment rate continues to soar as joblessness hits more than 1 in 5 workers.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, JB Pritzker, unemployment