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

By Patrick Andriesen

05/28/2026

Occupational licensing requirements present one of the steepest barriers to low-income Illinoisans starting careers in beauty services. Illinois requires anyone seeking to become a barber, cosmetologist, nail technician or hair braider to obtain a state license, essentially a permission slip to work. Unlike 45 other states, Illinois offers only one pathway to licensure for each...

Under Pritzker, Illinois near the bottom in job growth

By Josh Bandoch

05/06/2026

The state created only 54,000 jobs in seven years.

Proposed amendment does nothing to curb gerrymandering in Illinois

By Joe Tabor

04/29/2026

If state House Democrats were serious about protecting our votes, they would require competitive elections and remove politicians from the process.

4/20: How Illinois spends marijuana money

By Dylan Sharkey

04/20/2026

The state’s cannabis taxes likely tempt residents to make purchases in neighboring Missouri, which has one of the lowest rates in the country.

Illinois posted slow job growth last year

By Josh Bandoch

04/16/2026

The state’s unemployment rate is near the top nationwide

Illinois No. 2 in U.S. for high gas taxes

By Brad Weisenstein

02/04/2026

Illinoisans pay the third-highest gas taxes in the nation at nearly $0.85 per gallon. California leads and Michigan edged into the No. 2 spot.

TAGS: gas tax

Illinois loses 1,700 jobs in 2025 while nation adds 584,000

By Josh Bandoch, Jon Josko

01/30/2026

Illinois’ unemployment continued a long-term trend of remaining higher than the national rate as 2025 ends with lost jobs as the nation gained.

Census: 95% of Illinoisans moving out head to lower-tax states

By Bryce Hill

01/22/2026

U.S. Census estimates showed Illinois lost residents to 32 states and Washington, D.C. – virtually all to lower-tax states.

TAGS: outmigration, taxes

Gassing up in Illinois pricey during record holiday travel

By Jerry Barmore

12/18/2025

AAA estimates 5.7 million Illinoisans will travel this holiday season. Most will be driving, forced to pay the nation’s No. 2 gas taxes.

TAGS: gas tax

Illinois job growth less than half of Midwest’s in past year

By Josh Bandoch, Jon Josko

12/17/2025

 The information sector remains a bright spot in an otherwise challenging Illinois job market, but unemployment has pulled even with the national rate.

Missouri

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

Under Pritzker, Illinois near the bottom in job growth

Proposed amendment does nothing to curb gerrymandering in Illinois

4/20: How Illinois spends marijuana money

Illinois posted slow job growth last year

Illinois No. 2 in U.S. for high gas taxes

Illinois loses 1,700 jobs in 2025 while nation adds 584,000

Census: 95% of Illinoisans moving out head to lower-tax states

Gassing up in Illinois pricey during record holiday travel

Illinois job growth less than half of Midwest’s in past year

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