PRESS RELEASE from the
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE

MEDIA CONTACT: Rachel Wittel (312) 607-4977

Illinois slowest in the Midwest to get workers unemployed by COVID-19 crisis back to work
Initial unemployment claims in Illinois remain virtually unchanged since mid-April

CHICAGO (July 16, 2020) – As other states across the Midwest begin to see residents return to work from the COVID-19 crisis, Illinois is the worst in the Midwest and among all neighboring states in swapping unemployment checks for paychecks.

U.S. Department of Labor data show 37,626 Illinoisans filed for unemployment in the week ending July 11, bringing total new jobless claims to 1,458,097 million since COVID-19 started impacting Illinois’ economy. But the number of idled workers continuing to need unemployment assistance has remained virtually stagnant since mid-April, a 2.6% drop, as other states see double-digit improvements.

Illinois Policy Institute research shows Illinois trails far behind North Dakota, the second-worst state to recover jobs in the region. North Dakota has seen a 9.9% drop in continued claims from the week ending April 18 through the week ending July 4, the newest data on continuing claims. Meanwhile, Ohio has seen a 47.1% decline in continued claims, the largest in the region.

Orphe Divounguy, chief economist at the nonpartisan Illinois Policy Institute, offered the following statement:  

“The data show other Midwestern and neighboring states pulling previously unemployed workers affected by the health crisis off the sidelines. Unfortunately, Illinois is not.

“Illinois has suffered three months of the region’s worst employment outcomes amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, causing us to fall farther and farther behind our neighbors. Illinois’ businesses are diverse, and they need more specific plans allowing them to operate at the best of their abilities given the current crisis and associated lockdown.”

To read more about the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Illinois’ jobs, visit: illin.is/covidjobless.

For bookings or interviews, contact media@illinoispolicy.org or (312) 607-4977.