Illinois may pay bonuses to get workers to take jobs again

By Noah Shaar

07/08/2021

To combat above-average unemployment, Illinois state leaders discussed a possible back-to-work bonus. The state would pay cash to those who go off unemployment.

TAGS: Illinois, JB Pritzker, jobs, unemployment

Rockford suffers worst month of job loss in nation

By Bryce Hill

06/17/2021

Eight of 13 Illinois-based metro areas lost jobs in April.

TAGS: jobs, metro areas, Rockford, unemployment

Illinois’ unemployment pain hits all regions as recovery lags Midwest

By Bryce Hill

04/22/2021

Illinois’ unemployment rate remains the highest in the Midwest despite March jobs growth. Unemployment is high across the state compared to the region.

TAGS: COVID-19, jobs, recession, restrictions, unemployment

Lake County looks at 4-cent gas tax hike using law that doubled state gas tax

By Patrick Andriesen

03/05/2021

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker approved doubling the state gas tax in 2019 and gave some counties and Chicago the power to hike local gas taxes. Lake County is the latest to consider doing so.

TAGS: gas tax, Lake County

Illinois workers remain idle despite national rebound

By Bryce Hill

07/28/2020

The state and most of its urban areas are failing to get residents back to work at rates matching the national average.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, jobs, unemployment

Decatur, Peoria and Elgin hardest hit by job loss during Illinois lockdown

By Bryce Hill

06/04/2020

Record April job losses hurt some communities even more than Illinois’ statewide decline of 13.4%.

Illinois lawmakers introduce resolution to take progressive income tax off ballot

05/18/2020

Removing the progressive tax question from the Nov. 3 ballot would give over 100,000 small businesses some certainty as they struggle to recover from the COVID-19 shutdown.

TAGS: Bill Brady, coronavirus, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, Jim Durkin, progressive income tax, small business

Progressive income tax hike could be up to 47% for Illinois small businesses

By Bryce Hill

05/18/2020

Small businesses face a potential income tax hike nearly 5 times larger than corporations under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “fair tax” amendment.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, progressive income tax, small business

Every Illinois metro area loses population for second year in a row

By Bryce Hill

03/27/2020

New census data reveals that for a second year, all 10 metro areas based primarily in Illinois experienced population decline.

TAGS: outmigration, population, tax burden, tax hikes, U.S. Census Bureau

Pritzker claims statewide economic growth, but these Illinois metro areas are shedding jobs

By Bryce Hill

02/10/2020

Despite Gov. J.B. Pritzker touting growth in “every major region,” Illinois shed jobs in three metropolitan areas and lagged the national average in seven more.

TAGS: Bloomington, BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, budget, Carbondale, Champaign, Chicago, constitutional amendment, economic competitiveness, economic growth, economics, economy, employment, fair tax, flat tax, government spending, graduated income tax, Great Recession, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, income growth, JB Pritzker, job creation, jobs, labor, Madison County, metro areas, Metro East, Moline, pensions, Peoria, population, progressive income tax, recession, Rockford, spending, spending cap, Springfield, St. Clair County, tax burden, tax hikes, tax increase, unemployment, Urbana, working-age

Decatur

Illinois may pay bonuses to get workers to take jobs again

Rockford suffers worst month of job loss in nation

Illinois’ unemployment pain hits all regions as recovery lags Midwest

Lake County looks at 4-cent gas tax hike using law that doubled state gas tax

Illinois workers remain idle despite national rebound

Decatur, Peoria and Elgin hardest hit by job loss during Illinois lockdown

Illinois lawmakers introduce resolution to take progressive income tax off ballot

Progressive income tax hike could be up to 47% for Illinois small businesses

Every Illinois metro area loses population for second year in a row

Pritzker claims statewide economic growth, but these Illinois metro areas are shedding jobs

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