Wages have failed to keep up with inflation, dropping Illinoisans’ purchasing power by $2,900 on average.

Illinois is one of the states with the most to gain from the continued national jobs recovery, but could be hit harder than other states by a recession.

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.

Illinois’ employment recovery continued in May, but the state is still missing nearly one in six jobs lost during the pandemic.

Illinois’ overall job numbers continue to rise, but the recovery is spotty. Over half of the metropolitan areas failed to add jobs in April.

Illinois’ employment recovery continued in April, but the state is still missing almost one in five jobs lost during the pandemic.

Consumer prices rose 8.6% in May. Illinois wage growth hasn’t kept up, leaving the average worker over $2,200 worse off.

Wages rose in Illinois, but inflation rose even more. That left the average worker almost $2,200 worse off.

Illinois is already behind the national pandemic recovery. As the risk of recession increases, Illinoisans could fall farther behind.

Illinois is steadily adding jobs lost during the COVID-19 economic downturn, but despite 10 months of gains the state recovery lags the nation. Some metropolitan areas are far behind where they were.