10 Illinois metro areas add jobs in February, 5 await pandemic recovery

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

03/22/2024

10 of the 13 Illinois metro areas added jobs from January 2024 to February 2024, led by the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area. Five still reported fewer jobs than prior to the pandemic.

6 Illinois metro areas await pandemic recovery, just 6 add jobs in January

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

03/11/2024

Six of the 13 Illinois metro areas still reported fewer jobs than prior to the pandemic. Six metros added jobs from December 2023 to January 2024, led by the Champaign-Urbana area.

TAGS: jobs, unemployment

5 Illinois metro areas await pandemic recovery, most add jobs in December

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

01/26/2024

Seven of 13 Illinois metro areas added jobs from November to December 2023, led by the St. Louis area. Five metros still reported fewer jobs than prior to the pandemic.

Most Illinois metro areas shed jobs in June, await pandemic recovery

By Justin Carlson

08/04/2023

Despite statewide job gains in June, eight of Illinois’ metro areas lost jobs for the month. Most areas still haven’t recovered to pre-pandemic job levels.

Full text of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State speech

02/15/2023

Here’s what Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker had to say about how Illinois is faring and what his priorities will be in the fiscal year 2024 budget.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Illinois metro areas’ unemployment rates among worst in U.S.

By Justin Carlson

12/16/2022

Illinois’ metro areas already face unemployment problems, with some of the nation’s worst rates. They could be hit harder by a recession than other places in the nation.

Only 1 Illinois metro area has recovered COVID-19 job losses

By Bryce Hill

08/26/2022

Illinois’ lagging pandemic recovery continued across its cities in July. Only 1 metropolitan area has recovered from the pandemic.

TAGS: employment, jobs, unemployment

10 Illinois metro areas gain jobs, only 1 recovers from pandemic

By Bryce Hill

08/02/2022

Only Bloomington has recouped early 2020 job losses, which is bad news for Illinois’ lagging economy as recession fears increase.

TAGS: Bloomington, COVID-19, economic recovery, jobs, unemployment

Illinois adds jobs in May, but in just over half of metro areas

By Bryce Hill

07/10/2022

Despite a full year of job gains, all Illinois metropolitan areas are missing jobs since the pandemic began and the recovery stalled. While May brought job gains statewide, only eight metro areas saw gains while seven saw losses.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois, jobs, metro areas, unemployment

Experts: highway camera bills on Pritzker’s desk ripe for abuse

By Patrick Andriesen

04/27/2022

Two bills on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk would spend $20 million to add license plate monitoring cameras to 6,600 miles of highways in 22 counties. Civil rights groups fret about abuse. Illinois State Police can’t say they increase safety.

TAGS: Illinois, interstate highway, speed cameras

Bloomington

10 Illinois metro areas add jobs in February, 5 await pandemic recovery

6 Illinois metro areas await pandemic recovery, just 6 add jobs in January

5 Illinois metro areas await pandemic recovery, most add jobs in December

Most Illinois metro areas shed jobs in June, await pandemic recovery

Full text of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State speech

Illinois metro areas’ unemployment rates among worst in U.S.

Only 1 Illinois metro area has recovered COVID-19 job losses

10 Illinois metro areas gain jobs, only 1 recovers from pandemic

Illinois adds jobs in May, but in just over half of metro areas

Experts: highway camera bills on Pritzker’s desk ripe for abuse

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

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