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Illinois’ unemployment rank hits 12th in U.S.: best since pandemic

By Jack Knorr
07/25/2025
Illinois was No. 12 in the U.S. for its June unemployment rate. It’s not been ranked that low since before the pandemic. Still, the state trails the national average thanks to anemic private-sector growth.

TAGS: unemployment

Illinois loses 1,782 jobs, with 390 layoffs at Chicago job search firms Monster, CareerBuilder

By Brad Weisenstein
07/15/2025
Illinois saw 1,782 mass layoffs in June. Two merged Chicago job search firms, Monster and CareerBuilder, is sending 390 workers searching for new jobs.

TAGS: jobs, unemployment

Rockford workforce program lays concrete foundation for young adults

By Lauren Zuar
07/04/2025
As Illinois faces high unemployment, a persistent skills gap and thousands of at-risk youth, Rockford delivers opportunity through a targeted workforce program. It offers a model for other Illinois cities.

TAGS: education, unemployment

Illinois adds 21,200 jobs, but trails most neighboring states in growth

By Jack Knorr
07/01/2025
Despite Illinois experiencing job growth in some sectors, it remains one of the states with the highest unemployment rates. It’s been that way for 66 of the 77 months J.B. Pritzker has been governor thanks to high taxes and too much state spending.

TAGS: jobs, unemployment

Pritzker preps for presidential run carrying weight of Illinois failures

By Patrick Andriesen
05/23/2025
Outcomes for Illinoisans have dropped since Gov. J.B. Pritzker took office. The nation’s Democrats need to see where he’s taken Illinois before following his lead on the national stage.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, taxes, unemployment

One-third of Illinois’ March layoffs hit Chicago security firm

By Patrick Andriesen
04/15/2025
Illinois companies announced 947 mass layoffs in March. All but 21 of the job cuts were permanent.

TAGS: Chicago, jobs, unemployment

Illinois loses jobs in January, metro areas lag U.S. job growth

By Ravi Mishra, Jon Josko
03/24/2025
Illinois’ job market continued to struggle in January as the national economy grew. The job troubles were seen in eight of Illinois’ 13 metropolitan areas, with Champaign-Urbana hit the hardest.

TAGS: unemployment

Illinois companies announce 1,666 mass layoffs in February

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko
03/11/2025
Illinois companies announced 1,666 mass layoffs in February, with more than 4-in-5 impacting workers in Cook County. Schaumburg alone accounted for one-third of job losses.

TAGS: jobs, unemployment

Illinois unemployment still 3rd highest in U.S.

By Ravi Mishra, Jon Josko
01/28/2025
Illinois continues to maintain a sluggish job market and high unemployment. The December unemployment rate was third highest in the nation, where it has remained for months.

TAGS: jobs, unemployment

Mass layoffs hit 14.7K Illinoisans in 2024, most from business closures

By Patrick Andriesen
01/15/2025
State reports show 14,723 Illinoisans lost their jobs because of mass layoffs during 2024, with two-thirds resulting from business closures.

TAGS: Illinois, unemployment

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Center for Poverty Solutions / Research Report

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education


Published June 3, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The best path to empowerment and success, especially for poor people, is work. Work allows us to prosper while providing dignity, upward mobility, the means to support ourselves and create value for others. It’s how we become thriving members of our community. Central to this process is our education...

View Report

Report Archive

Budget + Tax / Your Story

Allan Luzbetak

Labor / Policy Point

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

By Paul Kersey
06/19/2014
Illinois Policy In the News

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

By Ted Dabrowski
05/02/2016

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