Illinois Lost 10,800 Jobs In September

By Cole Lauterbach | Illinois News Network

Illinois lost more than 10,000 jobs in September, according the the Illinois Department of Employment Security. In the announcement, department director Jeff Mays said the state's economy continues to sputter in comparison to most other states since the recovery.

Spokesman Bob Gough says the 3,300 drop in leisure and hospitality jobs could be partially blamed on the end of summer, but the 4,200 drop in transportation and trade sector jobs is troubling.

"It is a bit surprising but we have had adjustments in the past on our monthly numbers," he said. "When you see trade and transportation see that kind of a decline, that's something that gives you pause."

Gough said Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration has made steps to attempt to attract more employers, namely the state's pitch to land Amazon's new headquarters and the announcement of a new tech hub in Chicago.

"The DPI [Discovery Partners Institute] up in South Chicago and the pitch that the state is making toward Amazon HQ2," he said. "They're chances to show what everybody knows that we have a tremendous workforce here in Illinois."

One of the few positives was in the manufacturing sector, where 1,100 jobs were gained.

In spite of the job losses, the state's unemployment rate remained at 5 percent. That's largely because the labor force shrank by 97,000 since January.

Rauner and Republicans say tax, workers' compensation and regulation reforms are needed to spur job growth in Illinois. But the Democrat-controlled General Assembly led by House Speaker Michael Madigan has blocked those efforts.

Shortly after this year's legislative session was completed, the Illinois Manufacturers' Association called it the worst session for jobs growth in the state's history after lawmakers passed a $5 billion income tax increase without economic reforms.

Illinois News Network

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