Illinois lost 80,000 millennials between 2011-2015
Illinois lost 80,000 millennials between 2011-2015
Millennial out-migration from the Land of Lincoln is worse than all its neighboring states.
October BLS jobs report: Illinois has region’s heaviest manufacturing job losses in 2015 and 2016
October BLS jobs report: Illinois has region’s heaviest manufacturing job losses in 2015 and 2016
Since the beginning of 2015, Illinois has lost 14,100 manufacturing jobs.
Home-sharing brings out the best in us
Home-sharing brings out the best in us
New Airbnb regulations pose a serious problem for Chicagoans.
Illinois’ billions: Pension debt and unpaid bills total more than $140B
Illinois’ billions: Pension debt and unpaid bills total more than $140B
Fiscal mismanagement by Illinois politicians has resulted in mounting deficits that are hurting the state’s economy, leading to ever-higher taxes, and driving people and their income out of the state.
Federal tax changes could pressure Illinois to repeal death tax
Federal tax changes could pressure Illinois to repeal death tax
A repeal of the federal estate tax would make it imperative that Illinois get rid of its own state death tax to avoid losing even more residents and income to other states.
Local worker freedom law upheld in Kentucky, making worker freedom more likely for Illinois
Local worker freedom law upheld in Kentucky, making worker freedom more likely for Illinois
Illinois may soon be surrounded by Right-to-Work states.
Madigan loses his supermajority
Madigan loses his supermajority
New overtime rules in AFSCME contract could save $111 million if implemented
New overtime rules in AFSCME contract could save $111 million if implemented
With AFSCME and the state at impasse for a new contract, the governor can implement his last offer to the union. That offer includes overtime pay after employees work the market norm of 40 hours in a week – as opposed to the 37.5 hour workweeks AFSCME demanded. Adjustments to overtime pay will save the state $111 million over the term of the contract.
October jobs report: +2,200 jobs, but workforce dropout and unemployment rise
October jobs report: +2,200 jobs, but workforce dropout and unemployment rise
New IDES data show that Illinois’ overall jobs growth was weak for October. While the greater Chicago area had tepid jobs growth over the year, the rest of the state lost jobs.
Illinois metro jobs data tell a tale of two states
Illinois metro jobs data tell a tale of two states
Metropolitan jobs data show that from September 2015 – September 2016 the greater Chicago area is up approximately 49,000 jobs, while the rest of the state is down 6,000 jobs.
A sorry state: Illinois’ economy in 2017
A sorry state: Illinois’ economy in 2017
Since the end of the recession, only 5 out of Illinois’ 13 metro areas – Carbondale-Marion, Chicago, Kankakee, Lake County-Kenosha County and Springfield – have recovered all the private-sector jobs lost from the Great Recession.
National election results give Rauner opportunity for Medicaid overhaul
National election results give Rauner opportunity for Medicaid overhaul
The time is ripe to offer private insurance options to needy Illinoisans through premium-assistance programs and Medicaid savings accounts.
Aldermen rubber stamp Rahm’s 2017 budget
Aldermen rubber stamp Rahm’s 2017 budget
Despite the heavy burden Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s 2017 budget imposes on Chicago taxpayers, not a single alderman voted against it.
Madigan’s millions: Why the speaker should release his tax returns
Madigan’s millions: Why the speaker should release his tax returns
Every dollar Madigan earns back for his corporate clients makes someone else’s property-tax bill go up.