By: Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
The number of unemployed Illinoisans rose again in August. This marks Illinois’ 8th-month in a row for rising unemployment, with nearly 39,000 more workers out of a job compared to December, 2023.
Illinois’ unemployment rate also remained one of the nation’s worst. At 5.3%, Illinois’ rate ranked third, behind only Nevada and California. The national average for August was 4.2%.
Most of our neighbors have unemployment rates that are one to two percentage points lower than Illinois’. Wisconsin and Iowa are particular standouts at 2.9%, the nation’s 11th- and 12th-lowest employment rates, respectively.
These latest numbers contradict Gov. Pritzker’s recent celebrations on X about workforce development and Illinois’ economy.
The actual number of Illinoisans employed since the governor took office are down by nearly 90,000. That’s the 3rd-worst performance nationally and stands in stark contrast to the employment gains in states like Texas (+1.5 million) and Florida (+872,000).
And the economy? It’s also the 4th-worst performing in the country since the governor took office.
We’ll keep saying it over and over. Illinois’ leaders will never fix the state’s problems if they’re not honest about them.
Read more from Wirepoints:
- Illinois’ Gov. Pritzker delivers Democrats’ national economic pitch at DNC. A look at his own record is revealing.
- Illinois’ rich, young residents join the exodus to other states
- Chicago crime still up 40% over 2019 as Johnson implements police hiring freeze
- Democratic support for Gotion cracking under public pressure as U.S. House votes unanimously to bar DHS use of its batteries
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
The state’s existing buyout program for its own pensions is the precedent for Chicago, which should be a warning: Look out for similar exaggerated claims and shoddy analysis.
Illinois lost another 54,000 tax filers and dependents, net, according to the IRS. Since 2000, fleeing taxpayers have taken $94 billion of annual adjusted gross income with them.
See the article on losing young wealthy millenials to other states. Can you smell the catastrophe coming?
If this link is accurate it is not just Illinois with layoffs or hiring freezes but this trend is worldwide. This could go from bad to worse in the blink of an eye. Is this the start of something bigger in the near future?
https://intellizence.com/insights/layoff-downsizing/leading-companies-announcing-layoffs-and-hiring-freezes/
How many current jobs are hires supported directly or indirectly by state or municipal gov with COVID funds that are now drying up should be the scary question for JB & the machine?
Exactly right. The last of the hundreds of millions are being spent, and none of those government agencies have made any structural changes to deal with the shortfall. They are counting on a clean sweep by Democrats in the election so they get more free Fed bucks.
When the government subsidizes a new business, it also harms existing businesses, just get government completely out of choosing who to fund,let the free market prevail.
Nationwide, the word is out about all of Chicago and Illinois problems. Now, the only two classifications of people willing to relocate there are illegals and those being offered an amazing salary by the few businesses still thriving. The current trends depicted in the WP data will continue, and possible accelerate.
Being consistent can be a good indicator, but not when the metric is an awful thing, like unemployment. Perhaps an Illinois journalist (I know that’s oxymoronic), would like to question King Pritzker as to why fewer Illinois residents are working month after month when he constantly brags about businesses choosing Illinois as a place to do business. I mean, we all know businesses continue to leave Illinois, but surely those new businesses that are being given incentives to come to the state must be offsetting any losses. Oh well, being an anti business state is going to have some consequences… Read more »