This Thanksgiving, food stamps will buy nearly 14 percent of Illinoisans’ meals

By Joe Barnas

11/21/2018

Food stamp participation has seen an encouraging decrease, but lagging economic growth leaves Illinois ranked highest among neighboring states in SNAP enrollment.

TAGS: food stamps, SNAP, unemployment

Illinois’ private sector jobs growth among worst in the nation since 2017 tax hike

By Bryce Hill, Chena Underhill

11/02/2018

Jobs growth in Illinois has gone from middle of the pack to back of the line.

TAGS: income tax, jobs, taxes, unemployment

Illinois metro areas gain 800 jobs in September

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

10/26/2018

While a majority of Illinois’ metro areas experienced expanding payrolls in September, metro areas only gained 800 jobs on net.

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

Illinois added 2,800 jobs in September, still lags nation

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

10/19/2018

Since December 2017, the rest of the U.S. has expanded payrolls 80 percent faster than Illinois.

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

Illinois’ economy shed 5,200 jobs in August, the first drop in 2018

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Suman Chattopadhyay

09/23/2018

Illinois experienced net job losses in August, while the rest of the nation saw continued growth on average.

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

Manufacturer to shutter 2 Illinois plants, open $26M Indiana facility

By Vincent Caruso

09/19/2018

Accepting a deal that includes $6 million in subsidies, Wynright Corporation will expand its operations in Indiana and close plants in suburban Elk Grove and Oak Lawn.

TAGS: Indiana, Indiana Economic Development Corporation, jobs, manufacturing, outmigration, unemployment

One of Illinois’ top tax credit recipients to shutter 1,000-employee HQ

By Austin Berg

09/11/2018

Illinois issued more than $60 million in EDGE tax credits to Takeda Pharmaceuticals from 2003 to 2013, more than any other company received over that time.

TAGS: EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy, jobs, tax credits, unemployment

Chicago-based MillerCoors shedding 350 jobs, despite $5.7M TIF subsidy

By Vincent Caruso

09/06/2018

MillerCoors opened its Chicago headquarters in 2010. Eight years and nearly $6 million in subsidies later, the beer giant has been hammered by a heavy round of layoffs.

TAGS: Chicago, jobs, property taxes, taxes, TIF: Tax Increment Financing, unemployment

Rest of the nation sees 31 percent faster jobs growth vs. Illinois in 2018

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

08/17/2018

Illinois experienced its sixth consecutive month of jobs growth in July, yet continues to trail the pace of growth in the rest of the nation for 2018.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, income tax, jobs, manufacturing, progressive income tax, taxes, unemployment

Illinois jobs growth spikes in June, double the growth of the rest of the U.S.

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

07/20/2018

Illinois added 18,100 new jobs in June, the highest monthly increase since summer 2017, but the Prairie State still lags behind the rest of the nation for the post-recession period.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, credit rating, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, income tax, jobs, spending cap, taxes, unemployment