Illinois lost 3,200 payroll jobs in March, and the state’s unemployment rate ticked down to 8.4 percent from 8.7 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Illinois’ month-over-month change in payroll jobs was the third-worst nationally. Only Pennsylvania and Virginia lost more jobs. This news comes fresh on the heels of the announcement by...

Myth: Gov. Pat Quinn says that Illinois is a regional leader in job creation, and that the state is making a comeback. Fact: Illinois has ranked at the bottom of regional job comparisons since the Great Recession hit. Illinoisans suffer a jobless rate that is the second-worst in the nation and the highest in the...

The U.S. jobless rate remained at 6.7 percent in March, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The national jobless measure has not improved for three months. U.S. payrolls picked up 192,000 workers in March, slightly below expectations of 200,000. Employment gains were made in professional and business services (57,000), food and drink services (30,000),...

Illinois’ jobless rate remained stuck at 8.7 percent for the month of February, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Illinois remains the only state in the Midwest with a higher jobless rate today than when Gov. Pat Quinn took office. When Quinn took office, the jobless rate was 8 percent. The state gained 6,400...

Illinois is in a jobs crisis, now claiming the second-highest jobless rate nationally and the highest jobless rate in the Midwest. Gov. Pat Quinn and his allies are now on the move to make the problem worse for young people and minorities. Quinn should have learned from his own dismal record. Since Quinn took office,...

Gov. Pat Quinn noted in his State of the State address that “economic growth always starts with more jobs,” and that “we’ve seen progress on this front.” But it’s unclear who is experiencing progress in Illinois. Unemployment rates for youths are at crisis levels and rising, while minority rates are barely better. The Illinois Department...