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...

New data: Illinois homeowners pay country’s highest property taxes

By LyLena Estabine

05/27/2026

The state again had the highest residential property tax rate in the U.S. in 2024, tied with New Jersey.

TAGS: property taxes

Illinois combined state, local tax rate tops the country

By Brennan Park

05/13/2026

The amount of state and local taxes paid here also is near the nation’s highest.

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.

A review of Pritzker scandals

By Lilly Rossi

05/04/2026

With Gov. J.B. Pritzker stepping further onto the national stage and priming for politics outside of Illinois, let’s not forget his scandalous past.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

IRS: Illinois lost $6 billion to outmigration in 2023

By Bryce Hill

04/21/2026

A net of nearly 56,000 people and $6 billion in income left the state in 2023, according to IRS data.

TAGS: outmigration

Illinois posted slow job growth last year

By Josh Bandoch

04/16/2026

The state’s unemployment rate is near the top nationwide

Only 1 in 6 primary races offer voters choice

By Lilly Rossi

03/13/2026

State residents decide Tuesday who will be on the general election ballot in November.

Voters had no choice in nearly 9-in-10 primary elections

By Patrick Andriesen

03/02/2026

Illinois voting data shows voters had no choice of candidate in nearly 9-in-10 Democratic and Republican primaries for state and federal office in 2024.

Illinois has 8th–largest racial wealth gap in the nation

By Josh Bandoch

02/11/2026

Illinois in the top ten for largest racial wealth gaps. Disparities in income, education and poverty drive the state’s racial wealth gap.

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

New data: Illinois homeowners pay country’s highest property taxes

Illinois combined state, local tax rate tops the country

Under Pritzker, Illinois near the bottom in job growth

A review of Pritzker scandals

IRS: Illinois lost $6 billion to outmigration in 2023

Illinois posted slow job growth last year

Only 1 in 6 primary races offer voters choice

Voters had no choice in nearly 9-in-10 primary elections

Illinois has 8th–largest racial wealth gap in the nation

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