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

Every metropolitan area in Illinois shed jobs in 2020

By Bryce Hill

02/09/2021

The record year for job losses hit every corner of Illinois amid COVID-19 and state-mandated lockdowns.

TAGS: COVID-19, jobs, recession, unemployment

2020 is worst year for jobs in Illinois’ history

By Bryce Hill

01/25/2021

Illinois lost 423,300 jobs from December 2019 through December 2020.

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

Illinois unemployment claims double

By Brad Weisenstein

01/14/2021

Illinois unemployment numbers dropped for a week during the holidays, but they were back up last week as the state's hospitality industry remains out in the cold.

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

More Illinoisans collect unemployment as nation recovers

By Brad Weisenstein

01/08/2021

Bans on indoor dining and bar service continue to hurt Illinois jobs numbers, placing the state low in a national recovery ranking.

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

Illinois loses 1,100 jobs in October, unemployment rate falls largely from workers giving up

By Bryce Hill

11/20/2020

Jobs data is giving the illusion of economic recovery in Illinois. The reality is 107,530 workers gave up their job searches, and new COVID-19 lockdowns can only hurt more workers.

TAGS: COVID-19, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, income tax, JB Pritzker, jobs, pensions, unemployment

Illinois sees largest increase in new unemployment claims in the nation

By Bryce Hill

11/09/2020

76,338 Illinoisans filed new unemployment claims during the week ending Oct. 31, up more than 23,000 from prior week.

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

Illinois sees worst month of job loss in U.S. ahead of ‘fair tax’ vote

By Bryce Hill

10/22/2020

Illinois lost 12,000 jobs in September and is home to the highest unemployment rate in the Midwest. Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “fair tax” proposal would worsen the state’s jobs climate even more.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, jobs, unemployment