Despite budget impasse, state government, health care and social services employment grow

By Michael Lucci

09/06/2016

Government jobs growth continues while Illinois’ private sector suffers from burdensome taxes and regulations.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs, state worker pay

Food-stamp fraud and prevalence signs of a struggling state

By Austin Berg

08/25/2016

More than 1 in 5 Illinois households rely on food stamps to make ends meet.

TAGS: corruption, food stamps, jobs, SNAP, unemployment, welfare

Illinois has highest black unemployment rate in U.S.

By Michael Lucci

08/24/2016

The Land of Lincoln’s job-killing policies are hurting minority communities increasingly hard, while black unemployment in pro-growth states remains significantly lower.

TAGS: jobs, unemployment

Rauner signs occupational licensing reform into law

By Bryant Jackson-Green

08/24/2016

On Aug. 22, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law a bill that prevents the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation from using irrelevant criminal convictions as a basis for denying licenses to applicants seeking to work as barbers, cosmetologists, hair braiders, estheticians, nail technicians, roofing business owners or funeral directors.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, occupational licensing

Illinois state workers have options if they wish to opt out of a union

By Mailee Smith

08/19/2016

Illinois state workers can opt out of union membership to become fair share payers, but reforms such as Right to Work and Worker’s Choice would promote greater worker freedom and benefit the state.

Unemployment rate drops as Illinois workforce shrinks by 33,600 during summer moving season

By Michael Lucci

08/19/2016

Manufacturing weakness driving Illinois unemployment up; dropout and out-migration driving unemployment down.

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

It’s time to get special interests out of workers’ comp

By Austin Berg

08/12/2016

Illinois physicians in the workers’ compensation system are allowed to sell “repackaged” pills directly to patients at huge markups, averaging between 60 and 300 percent.

TAGS: workers compensation

A comprehensive review of the most absurd benefits in the AFSCME collective bargaining agreement

By Mailee Smith

08/10/2016

AFSCME does all it can to perpetuate the myth that it is the “little guy” – the victim – in any contract negotiations with the state. The evidence paints a different picture.

Illinois employers announce 956 layoffs in July

By Brendan Bakala

08/09/2016

Illinois’ July WARN report marks a 59% increase in layoffs from June’s numbers, as well as an uptick in manufacturing job losses.

TAGS: jobs, unemployment, WARN

Madigan’s middle-class myth

By Austin Berg

08/04/2016

Less than half of Illinois households are defined as middle class.

TAGS: household income, income tax, middle class, Mike Madigan, taxes

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Despite budget impasse, state government, health care and social services employment grow

Food-stamp fraud and prevalence signs of a struggling state

Illinois has highest black unemployment rate in U.S.

Rauner signs occupational licensing reform into law

Illinois state workers have options if they wish to opt out of a union

Unemployment rate drops as Illinois workforce shrinks by 33,600 during summer moving season

It’s time to get special interests out of workers’ comp

A comprehensive review of the most absurd benefits in the AFSCME collective bargaining agreement

Illinois employers announce 956 layoffs in July

Madigan’s middle-class myth

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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