Illinois sales taxes highest in Midwest

By Bryce Hill

02/14/2024

Combined state and average local sales tax rate tallies 8.85% in Illinois for 2024. That’s the highest in the Midwest and seventh highest in the nation.

All neighbor states grow as Illinois population shrinks by 32,826

By Bryce Hill

12/28/2023

Illinoisans moving to other states was the sole reason for population decline in 2023. It’s not a Midwestern thing, because our neighbors are growing.

Illinois’ excessive job licensing keeps Chicagoans in poverty

By Joe Tabor

12/01/2023

Occupational licensing is more burdensome in Illinois than in neighboring states for many professions. Those barriers are unreasonably keeping poor Illinoisans and Chicagoans from finding work.

TAGS: occupational licensing

Illinois can fight poverty by reducing excessive regulations that limit jobs

By Joe Tabor

09/25/2023

Data from the Mercatus Center shows Illinois faces a high regulatory burden at both the federal and state level. Research shows these regulations place a disproportionately high burden on the poor, helping to keep them in poverty.

TAGS: regulations

Report: Illinois, Chicago public pension crises worst in U.S.

By Bryce Hill, Justin Carlson

07/19/2023

Illinois state and local pension debt now tallies $218 billion with both debt to GDP and funding ratios the worst in the nation, according to a new Equable Institute report.

TAGS: pensions

Illinois’ revenue volatility among highest in U.S., threatens budget stability

By Justin Carlson

05/17/2023

Illinois just saw a $1.76 billion drop in state income tax collections, proving what a new study just showed: state tax policies give it the nation’s eighth-most volatile revenues. That also makes Illinois very vulnerable when a recession hits.

Illinois losing residents 5 times faster than any neighbor state

By Bryce Hill

12/22/2022

Kentucky, Wisconsin, Indiana and Missouri are attracting residents while Iowa and Michigan are the only neighbor states losing residents to other states

TAGS: Illinois, population, U.S. Census Bureau

Outmigration caused Illinois’ population to decline again in 2022

By Bryce Hill

12/22/2022

New Census Bureau data shows people moving out of Illinois continues to drive the state’s population decline. So many moved away in the year before July 2022, it was almost like Rockford disappearing.

TAGS: Illinois, outmigration, population

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

By Joe Tabor

08/17/2022

Published Aug. 17, 2022 Illinois is home to one of the worst pension crises in the country.1 At 39% funded, according to the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, Illinois has the worst pension funding ratio of any state.2 By contrast, neighboring Wisconsin’s pension system is 103% funded.3 In fiscal year 2022, Illinois’ total general funds pension...

Illinois still missing 1 in 7 jobs lost during pandemic

By Bryce Hill

08/01/2022

With the highest unemployment rate in the Midwest and 117,000 jobs still missing, Illinois’ labor market is among the least recovered in the region.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economic recovery, employment, job creation, jobs

Kentucky

Illinois sales taxes highest in Midwest

All neighbor states grow as Illinois population shrinks by 32,826

Illinois’ excessive job licensing keeps Chicagoans in poverty

Illinois can fight poverty by reducing excessive regulations that limit jobs

Report: Illinois, Chicago public pension crises worst in U.S.

Illinois’ revenue volatility among highest in U.S., threatens budget stability

Illinois losing residents 5 times faster than any neighbor state

Outmigration caused Illinois’ population to decline again in 2022

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

Illinois still missing 1 in 7 jobs lost during pandemic

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

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