Illinois metro unemployment rates still among worst in U.S.

By Justin Carlson

06/30/2023

While most Illinois metropolitan areas saw job gains last month, unemployment rates remain higher than the U.S. rate in 11 of the state’s 13 metro areas.

Full text of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State speech

02/15/2023

Here’s what Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker had to say about how Illinois is faring and what his priorities will be in the fiscal year 2024 budget.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Big batteries to store renewable energy create fire hazard

By Dylan Sharkey

02/14/2023

As Illinois pushes for more renewable energy, it comes with a fire hazard risk at battery storage centers. A battery storage facility explosion in Arizona hurt eight firefighters. There have been three other fires.

Illinois metro areas’ unemployment rates among worst in U.S.

By Justin Carlson

12/16/2022

Illinois’ metro areas already face unemployment problems, with some of the nation’s worst rates. They could be hit harder by a recession than other places in the nation.

Congressmen ask Pritzker to repay $1.3B federal unemployment debt

By Patrick Andriesen

10/19/2022

U.S. House Ways and Means Committee members wrote Gov. J.B. Pritzker asking for repayment of a $1.3 billion federal unemployment insurance fund loan before Nov. 10. Failing to do so means automatically raising taxes on businesses.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Nearly half of Illinois’ metropolitan areas lost jobs in August

By Justin Carlson

09/28/2022

The latest job numbers show Illinois continues struggling to recover pandemic job losses, a bad sign for its lagging economy as recession fears rise.

Illinois’ public pension mess shows threat of unchecked government union power

By Joe Tabor

09/14/2022

For 52 years the Illinois Constitution’s pension protection clause has locked the state into retirement promises it cannot afford. Amendment 1 could do the same for government union demands, handing taxpayers the bill.

TAGS: government unions, pensions

Only 1 Illinois metro area has recovered COVID-19 job losses

By Bryce Hill

08/26/2022

Illinois’ lagging pandemic recovery continued across its cities in July. Only 1 metropolitan area has recovered from the pandemic.

TAGS: employment, jobs, unemployment

10 Illinois metro areas gain jobs, only 1 recovers from pandemic

By Bryce Hill

08/02/2022

Only Bloomington has recouped early 2020 job losses, which is bad news for Illinois’ lagging economy as recession fears increase.

TAGS: Bloomington, COVID-19, economic recovery, jobs, unemployment

Illinois adds jobs in May, but in just over half of metro areas

By Bryce Hill

07/10/2022

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.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois, jobs, metro areas, unemployment

Peoria

Illinois metro unemployment rates still among worst in U.S.

Full text of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State speech

Big batteries to store renewable energy create fire hazard

Illinois metro areas’ unemployment rates among worst in U.S.

Congressmen ask Pritzker to repay $1.3B federal unemployment debt

Nearly half of Illinois’ metropolitan areas lost jobs in August

Illinois’ public pension mess shows threat of unchecked government union power

Only 1 Illinois metro area has recovered COVID-19 job losses

10 Illinois metro areas gain jobs, only 1 recovers from pandemic

Illinois adds jobs in May, but in just over half of metro areas

Taxed out: 10 reforms to stop Illinois from losing people and jobs

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Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students