781 layoffs in September, with Amazon closing a Chicago facility

By Patrick Andriesen

10/09/2024

Chicago led Illinois for mass layoffs in September after Amazon announced it was closing its Goose Island fulfillment center.

Illinois had 1,183 mass layoffs in August, with more than 9-in-10 stemming from business closures

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

09/24/2024

Chicago led the state in mass layoffs, accounting for more than one-third of job cuts in August. The statewide data shows 93% of job losses stemmed from companies closing up shop.

Illinois sales taxes 7th highest in U.S.

By Dylan Sharkey, Kurtis Karg

09/10/2024

Illinois’ combined state and average local sales tax is the seventh highest in the nation. It is the highest among the most populous states.

TAGS: sales tax

1,190 Illinois jobs shed in July, with Deere leading for 2nd month

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

09/04/2024

The Quad Cities will experience a combined 319 job cuts after John Deere announced layoffs at both its World Headquarters in Moline and Harvester Works factory in East Moline. Romeoville saw more than 1-in-4 of the mass layoffs statewide.

TAGS: jobs

Illinoisans face 1,026 job cuts in June, with 27% at John Deere

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

08/02/2024

Illinoisans faced 1,026 mass layoffs in June 2024, with manufacturing and transportation sectors hit hardest. John Deere in East Moline accounted for about 1-in-4 of the layoffs announced statewide.

TAGS: jobs, unemployment

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families  

By Josh Bandoch, Joe Tabor

07/09/2024

Published July 9, 2024 America is facing a housing affordability crisis. According to a 2022 survey, 73% of Americans said the average person could not afford a home in their area, and 69% were worried about their children and grandchildren being able to afford a home. That’s unfair. Everyone deserves a good roof over their...

New John Deere layoffs follow Illinois losing 1,124 jobs in May

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

07/02/2024

Declining demand has John Deere planning 600 layoffs, including 280 in Illinois, by the end of August. Illinois already had companies planning to cut 1,124 jobs in May, hitting janitorial services providers, collection agencies and packaging industries.

TAGS: jobs

Illinois retailers taxed $186M by capping sales tax credit

By Patrick Andriesen

05/30/2024

A cap on the retailers’ sales tax credit will effectively hikes taxes on Illinois retailers by $186 million. Retailers are already facing razor-thin margins, but the record $53.1 billion state budget required $1.1 billion in new taxes.

TAGS: sales tax

2024 State of the State: Federal rescue is over, so Illinois needs caution

By Bryce Hill

02/20/2024

The pandemic had an upside for Illinois state finances – infusing federal dollars as state revenues exceeded projections. Now federal aid is gone. Illinoisans’ ongoing struggles warrant caution, reform in the state’s fiscal year 2025 budget.

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.

Tax Foundation

781 layoffs in September, with Amazon closing a Chicago facility

Illinois had 1,183 mass layoffs in August, with more than 9-in-10 stemming from business closures

Illinois sales taxes 7th highest in U.S.

1,190 Illinois jobs shed in July, with Deere leading for 2nd month

Illinoisans face 1,026 job cuts in June, with 27% at John Deere

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families

New John Deere layoffs follow Illinois losing 1,124 jobs in May

Illinois retailers taxed $186M by capping sales tax credit

2024 State of the State: Federal rescue is over, so Illinois needs caution

Illinois sales taxes highest in Midwest

Fighting poverty with employment: Chicago block clubs

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