Illinois joins 8 states asking to escape interest on unemployment loan

By Dylan Sharkey

12/18/2021

Illinois borrowed $4.2 billion from the federal government to replenish its unemployment trust fund, missed the deadline to repay it and now wants to avoid the interest that is due.

TAGS: COVID-19, Susana Mendoza, unemployment

Illinois gains 19,500 jobs in November, but still lags recovery

By Jon Josko

12/17/2021

November job gains in Illinois were below the COVID-19 recovery pace set earlier in the year. They continued to lag the national recovery.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois, jobs, unemployment

Illinois ending debit card payments for unemployment benefits

By Patrick Andriesen

12/06/2021

Illinois is ending its debit card option and going to paper checks for unemployment benefits, unless recipients arrange for direct deposit. The state has yet to address a $5.8 billion deficit in the unemployment fund.

TAGS: IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, unemployment

All-time record 201,000 Illinoisans quit their jobs in August

By Bryce Hill

11/01/2021

Illinois’ sluggish labor market is driven by a record number of workers quitting their jobs at the same time there are fewer job opportunities than in nearly any other state. Even though an all-time record number of workers quit, Illinois was only No. 7 in the “Great Resignation.”

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

Illinois’ racial employment gap is double U.S. average

By Orphe Divounguy

10/05/2021

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced his reelection bid on July 19 with the key pillar of his campaign being his record on “protecting the lives and livelihoods of the people of Illinois.” Look at the “livelihoods” in Illinois, and that quickly looks like a poor campaign decision.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois, unemployment

Illinois payrolls stagnant, unemployment rate 35% higher than U.S. average

By Bryce Hill

09/17/2021

Illinois’ non-farm payrolls only added 2,500 jobs from mid-July to mid-August. Unemployment was steadily high as the rest of the nation recovered.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois, unemployment

Illinois misses deadline to repay $4.2 billion federal unemployment insurance loan

By Adam Schuster, Patrick Andriesen, Perry Zhao

09/17/2021

Illinois missed the September deadline to repay a $4.2 billion federal unemployment loan. Employers warn inaction by state lawmakers could ‘cripple’ businesses and the COVID-19 economic recovery.

TAGS: COVID-19, federal government, Illinois, loan, unemployment

Everything you need to know about Illinois unemployment

By Brad Weisenstein

09/13/2021

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 falls farther behind national economic recovery in July

By Bryce Hill

08/23/2021

Despite the strongest jobs report in months, Illinois’ unemployment rate remains high as the U.S. rate continues to drop.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois, jobs, 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

Unions flood politicians with cash: How it buys clout in Illinois General Assembly

Government unions in Illinois have tremendous power. Most are allowed to go on strike and can bargain over virtually anything.1 It creates an uneven playing field, with unions able to demand costly provisions in their contracts and threaten to strike – denying Illinoisans needed services – to get what they want.2 Until recently, the potential...

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Unions flood politicians with cash: How it buys clout in Illinois General Assembly

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Toni Larocco

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students