The statewide Illinois job market outpaced the national average. But 13 of 15 metro areas continued to have higher unemployment rates than the U.S. average.
Illinois is tied with California for the nation’s second-worst unemployment behind only Nevada, according to September data.
Chicago led Illinois for mass layoffs in September after Amazon announced it was closing its Goose Island fulfillment center.
Illinois’ job market outpaced the national average during August. But 13 of Illinois’ 15 metropolitan areas continued to have higher unemployment rates than the national average.
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.
The Fed just cut interest rates over worries about the national jobs outlook, but in Illinois unemployment has been a persistent problem. Tax and state economic policy should get much of the blame.
En el Censo de 1920, la población de Chicago era de 2.7 millones, un aumento de más de 516,000 en una década. Más de 100 años después, la población de Chicago es de 2.66 millones, una pérdida de 128,034 tras nueve años consecutivos de declive.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently OK’d four new laws that would expand the ability for professionals to practice in Illinois. While they are advancements, Illinois’ onerous occupational licensing system needs comprehensive reform.
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.
Despite Illinois’ job market outpacing the national average, all 15 metro areas continue to have higher unemployment rates than the national average.
July unemployment hit 5.2% in Illinois, ranking second worst in the nation. It equated to 341,630 workers looking for a job.
Nearly 100,000 Chicago-area residents are out of work, and at 6.2% the Chicago metro area has the highest unemployment rate of the nation’s 50 largest metro areas. Illinois as a whole isn’t doing much better, with a 6.1% unemployment rate.