Everything you need to know about Illinois unemployment

By Brad Weisenstein

07/29/2021

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

Black workers suffer most from Illinois’ slow recovery from COVID-19

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

07/19/2021

Some parts of Illinois’ job markets are recovering, but not for Black Illinoisans. Many jobs are still missing from before COVID-19, including over one-third of the leisure and hospitality jobs.

TAGS: black community, COVID-19, Illinois, jobs, unemployment

$51,627 in unemployment benefits for average salaried parent in Illinois

By Noah Shaar

07/16/2021

Illinois employers are hurting from a lack of workers while the state unemployment rate remains high. When a parent can stay home and make $51,627 on unemployment, the prospects of getting more workers back to work this summer appear dim.

TAGS: Illinois, unemployment

Chicago’s unemployment recovery near dead last for big cities

By Patrick Andriesen

07/09/2021

A national study ranked Chicago’s unemployment recovery 172nd out of the 180 most-populous U.S. cities. Lawmakers didn’t help when they imposed $655 million in new taxes on the state’s job creators.

TAGS: Chicago, COVID-19, unemployment

Illinois may pay bonuses to get workers to take jobs again

By Noah Shaar

07/08/2021

To combat above-average unemployment, Illinois state leaders discussed a possible back-to-work bonus. The state would pay cash to those who go off unemployment.

TAGS: Illinois, JB Pritzker, jobs, unemployment

Illinois’ less-populated areas lead May jobs decline

By Bryce Hill

07/08/2021

Illinois shed 7,900 jobs in May but most of those losses were outside of urban areas.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs, unemployment

Illinois workers 26% less likely to find a job in May than other workers

By Orphe Divounguy, Jon Josko

06/23/2021

Illinois lost jobs in May as the state’s workers found themselves facing a tougher job hunt than workers in other states.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois, jobs, unemployment

Illinois sheds 7,900 jobs in May despite national recovery from COVID-19

By Bryce Hill

06/17/2021

Illinois saw six of 11 major industries shrink payrolls in May as the nation continued to regain jobs lost during the COVID-19 recession.

TAGS: Illinois, jobs, labor force participation rate, unemployment

Rockford suffers worst month of job loss in nation

By Bryce Hill

06/17/2021

Eight of 13 Illinois-based metro areas lost jobs in April.

TAGS: jobs, metro areas, Rockford, unemployment

Illinois ranks 7th worst in U.S. for pandemic unemployment assistance rollout

By Patrick Andriesen

06/08/2021

Illinois was among the nation’s worst for delays in helping gig workers and the self-employed receive pandemic assistance unemployment payments, a federal audit found. Rampant fraud and inadequate reporting was also discovered nationwide.

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