44K international migrants offset 40K Illinoisans leaving last year

By Bryce Hill

01/27/2026

Illinois’ population grew by 16,108 in 2025 thanks to an influx of people migrating from other countries. But Illinoisans moving away offset most of that gain.

TAGS: outmigration, population

Illinois is No. 3 for workforce development

By Josh Bandoch

01/26/2026

Illinois’ strong colleges and workforce training help reduce unemployment and close skill gaps, ranking No. 1 in the Midwest and No. 3 nationally.

Food aid feeds almost 2M statewide in May, 1-in-3 in southern counties

By Lauren Zuar

09/12/2025

Enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program dropped by 3.2% in May. Still, nearly 2 million Illinoisans relied on federal food aid, with participation rates exceeding 30% in some Southern Illinois counties.

Illinois lawmakers get 26 seconds per page to read 2025 budget

By Patrick Andriesen

05/20/2025

Illinois state lawmakers must be super speed readers, because who would vote on something they hadn’t read? They were given an average of 67 seconds per page to read the past nine state budgets, but last year received only 26 seconds per page.

Survey: Illinoisans to pay over 10% of incomes to state, local taxes in 2025

By Patrick Andriesen

04/01/2025

Illinois will impose the nation’s seventh-highest state and local tax burden on residents in 2025. Taxpayers on average will pay over 10% of their annual income to support government, according to WalletHub.

TAGS: Tax Day

Literacy epidemic hits Illinois as fewer than 1 in 3 students read well

By Hannah Schmid

03/28/2025

Student literacy is in trouble nationally. Illinois is one of 41 states where just 1 in 3 or fewer of its fourth-graders met reading standards in 2024.

TAGS: public schools

Chicago area gets over 96K international migrants in 2024; 238K since 2020

By Bryce Hill

03/12/2025

Chicagoland’s population has been boosted by international migrants in recent years. But 347,000 residents left for other states since April 2020.

TAGS: outmigration, population, property taxes

64 of Illinois’ 102 counties see populations drop in 2024

By Bryce Hill

03/12/2025

While Illinois’ total population grew slightly last year, many areas of the state experienced population decline. People moved out of state from half the counties.

TAGS: outmigration, population, taxes

Illinois is Midwest’s biggest people loser

By Bryce Hill

03/05/2025

Most neighboring states are gaining residents from people moving across state lines. Even of the states losing people, Illinois is losing at a significantly faster rate.

Illinois ranks 48th for people moving out, loses over 56K residents

By Bryce Hill

02/27/2025

Illinois ability to keep its residents is third from the bottom. Only California and New York have more people moving to other states.

TAGS: outmigration, population

Alaska

44K international migrants offset 40K Illinoisans leaving last year

Illinois is No. 3 for workforce development

Food aid feeds almost 2M statewide in May, 1-in-3 in southern counties

Illinois lawmakers get 26 seconds per page to read 2025 budget

Survey: Illinoisans to pay over 10% of incomes to state, local taxes in 2025

Literacy epidemic hits Illinois as fewer than 1 in 3 students read well

Chicago area gets over 96K international migrants in 2024; 238K since 2020

64 of Illinois’ 102 counties see populations drop in 2024

Illinois is Midwest’s biggest people loser

Illinois ranks 48th for people moving out, loses over 56K residents

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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