An impending health care worker shortage argues for a bill that would allow Illinois to join a multi-state nursing license compact. Nurses could see improved job options.
Illinois households earning less than $40,000 were four-times as likely to lose their jobs from February-April 2020 and nearly 11 times as likely to still be out of work compared to those earning $75,000 or more.
The industry had been one of the bright spots in the Illinois economy but COVID-19 and state-mandated mitigation efforts have decimated it.
While the nation gets back to work, Illinois unemployment claims rose again. The past week ranked Illinois 50th out of 51, including Washington, D.C.
“Adding Illinois to the Nurse Licensure Compact could really help alleviate the heavy burden placed on nurses."
"I couldn’t transfer my license, so I had to get a new license just to get a job back in Iowa, which cost hundreds of dollars.”
The record year for job losses hit every corner of Illinois amid COVID-19 and state-mandated lockdowns.
“I have friends that now aren’t getting a paycheck, and they’re still getting hit with car payments or student loans or for rent because they’re living in Chicago.”
“More than just the money and the shutdowns, the inconsistency in regulations has a domino effect on how you do business with everybody, from vendors to the comedians.”
“$20,000 annually in property taxes is what you pay for on a mansion. This is not a mansion.”
Illinois’ population decline has been accelerating during the past 7 years, while neighboring states gain from that loss.
Illinois lost 423,300 jobs from December 2019 through December 2020.
More people again in 2020 became former Illinoisans than new Illinoisans. The new General Assembly has the power to stop the moving vans.
“I went to appeal my property taxes and won. But that same year they increased the levy amount, so my taxes still went up."