45 Comments - Steve - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 8:47 am: This is a non answer. Why wuould there be such a difference in raw job numbers compared to Florida , Tennessee, and Texas? - Sue - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 8:48 am: Don’t know if JB appreciates how silly he sounds constantly touting his economic success- Illinois is not at the top of any relocation lists- we are at the very bottom of GDP growth- we have one of the highest UE rates in the country and based on IRS data- we are the third worst for outward migration of taxpayers- this is pure gaslighting - Travel Guy - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 8:56 am: ==this is pure gaslighting== Is this your first time hearing a politician speak? It’s like when Bailey says that he will cut all of our taxes, but he never shows his work on the legal cuts that he will impose to make it a reality. - Thomas Paine - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 9:02 am: I might try flipping the script: The secret to Illinois economic success, our greatest resource, is people. We win economically by building and maintaining the kinds of communities that talented workers want to call home. Thanks to a diverse, well-educated, and talented workforce, Illinois is the economic engine of the midwest, and the Chicago region boasts a greater economic output than Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Detroit, and Des Moines combined. As cities in the south like Nashville, Atlanta, Houston, Austin and Dallas become more welcoming and diverse, they have thrived as well, and I welcome the competition, it only makes us better. Unfortunately there are regions of the state that are struggling, and that had a lot to do with the need to embrace and welcome a changing world. A world that recognizes slavery was wrong, dinosaurs didn’t roam the earth with cavemen, and its wrong to discriminate against people for who they are or who they love. I want to see every part of Illinois succeed, but people have to want that for their communities as well. And that’s what this election is about: whether we work toward a more hopeful future together, or continue to cling to outdated ways of the past. - Friendly Bob Adams - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 9:03 am: There’s always been an economic development component to DCEO. It’s what the E is for. - Time Will Tell - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 9:03 am: It may be easier for big businesses seeking tax breaks and corporate inceptives to get assistance from the State, but changing laws and less emphasis on small business assistance has made it harder for smaller businesses to succeed. At least half a dozen new laws pass each year increasing regulatory requirements and administrative burdens for small businesses. There aren’t “white glove” services for the little guys and gals. - Thomas Paine - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 9:09 am: @Sue - I don’t think that’s true. The Chicago region, including the increasingly Democratic suburbs and collar counties, is hugely successful. The GOP regions of the state are hemorraging jobs. 50 years ago, you provided some economic incentives, built a factory, and good paying jobs were locked in to your community. Its not that way any more. You have to build the kind of community people with college degrees want to call home. Rural Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho and Wyoming are doing it. Nashville, Atlanta, Houston are doing it. Champaign has done it. - Paul Peterson - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 9:28 am: He has a template for dealing with tough questions Noun, verb, blame Republican who left office 8 years ago (who did not have the luxury of a supermajority legislature or his party) or the Republican administration The results are clear yet he refuses to acknowledge the lackluster economic growth during his tenure - Taco Man - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 9:31 am: Our governor is doing a fabulous job as the CEO of our state. In fact, Illinois ranks No. 2 in the nation for corporate expansion and relocation projects (trailing only Texas), a position it has held for four consecutive years, while Chicago region ranks No. 2 in the U.S. for the number of Fortune 500 company headquarters. - GoneFishing - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 9:38 am: What kind of jobs are being created in those other states and where in those states. How about the same in Illinois, Califonia, New York. - InIllinois - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 9:44 am: @Thomas Paine Don’t forget how hard the IL GOP fought against the Gotion factory in Manteno. Even when its factory jobs they were going to throw it away because they didn’t want JB to get credit for it. - Incandenza - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 9:46 am: == increasing regulatory requirements and administrative burdens for small businesses == A lot of this regulatory strangling comes from the local level. Most municipalities have mandatory parking and minimum lot sizes for a business location. It’s impossible for someone to open up a business from their garage due to local zoning prohibitions. You can’t open a commercial gym in your neighborhood because it’s all zoned for residential only. Look over at Japan, where inclusive zoning allows for small businesses to open right from your home, incubating small businesses and making it easy to enter for individuals, not just large chains. There’s a ton of low-hanging fruit for small business-friendly changes at the municipal level. But cities and suburbs have to decide if they are just a glorified sleeper suburb or a real town with it’s own economy. You can’t be both. Bring back the local gym, the local bar, the corner store, the bespoke business run from a kiosk in someone’s garage. But all that requires flexibility in zoning. - Hoosier Daddy - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 9:50 am: Maybe he can explain why existing companies who are established in Illinois are moving to those other states. Taxes taxes and more taxes. - Google is Your Friend - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 9:54 am: Texas is experiencing slower and slower job growth and the amount of Texas companies projecting hiring growth for 2027 is currently as the same level as they projected in the middle of 2020 (in case you forgot, there was a massive decline in employment due to a global pandemic and most firms were not projecting to hire a lot). https://trerc.tamu.edu/reports/texas-economic-outlook-october-2026/ - Louis G Atsaves - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 9:55 am: Watched the debate. Both candidates left me with a pounding headache. Yet the Governor continues to dodge “do you believe in that data” questions when asked. Or he fudges by stating “almost nobody who was responsible . . .” Yet I keep looking at which cities and regions are booming in this country, and remain struck by how Indianapolis is expanding, how Nashville (even building a new stadium for goodness gracious) is expanding, and how Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia and Florida are booming when driving to and from Florida. My Florida property tax bill is one third the size of my property in Illinois. Yet somehow the economic boom isn’t accompanied by multiple state tax and fee increases like we in Illinois have experienced these past 8 years. I guess those conservative economists are right, you can’t tax your way into prosperity. Rauner was 8 years ago. This Governor has been sitting behind the steering wheel for the 8-post Rauner years, yet he remains focused on blaming Rauner, Trump, Republicans and even blaming Bailey during that debate for voting against a few budgets. He actually sounds like Trump at times. It is never his fault. Crime is down in Illinois and anyone who says otherwise is a liar? Or is it crime stats are down? Violent or non-violent. Mendoza who now is running for Mayor of Chicago keeps claiming the crime stats are manipulated. Is she right? Is she wrong? Isn’t she a Democrat? Is she also a liar? Our Governor by his spending is heavily campaigning against dinosaurs. Remind me to lock my doors to keep those pesky critters out. Last year he proclaimed the budget balanced and two months later was talking about a looming budget shortfall in Illinois and put all agencies on a spending diet. Comparing the numbers from last year to this year, I can’t call it a diet. Yet all his budgets have been balanced? He denied Illinois’ loss of population under his watch. Census numbers seem to argue against him. So what is he exactly focused upon again in this State that requires fixing? Sorry I watched that debate or whatever it was on public television between the two Governor candidates. I still have a headache. - Paul Peterson - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 10:16 am: It’s reasonable to debate targeted incentives like the State of Illinois offering a total of 536 million in incentives and tax breaks over 30 years to create 2,600 permanent jobs at the Gotion plant vs a more competitive tax and regulatory environment that would benefit all Illinois businesses large and small. Over the past few decades over 60% of jobs have been created by smaller companies with fewer than 500 employees - Two Left Feet - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 10:20 am: We are failing as a state in job growth relative to other states. It also may be true that the Governor is doing a lot of work so that we are not failing more. The 800K figure seems high. $700 billion companies have come to the state and we are up 25K jobs. No bueno. - Downstate - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 10:23 am: The canary in the coal mine isn’t being discussed. School enrollment is the precursor to state population. Illinois enrollment has dropped by 10% in the last 10 years. (National number is 2%). CPS has lost nearly Since 2010, Cook County school enrollment has dropped 24%. Those numbers point to what our employment population will be in 5-15 years. It’s fairly grim. - Brandon - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 10:28 am: Q2 GDP growth by states: Illinois 2.1%, Tennessee 1.7%, Indiana 1.3%, Kentucky 0.7%, Iowa 1.7%, Missouri 1.9%, Ohio 2%. Wisconsin and Michigan had us beat. The cherry picked stats and partial data is akin to Illinois Policy Institute and Wirepoints where half truths and contextless stats are the norm. Illinois has its highest worker count in its history. It has its highest population count in history after the census admitted its undercount. These are all facts that the GOP actively ignores. They know the census undercounted Illinois but they keep going with the undercount amount despite knowing full well the census admitted their error. Chicago for 12 years in a row has been number 1 in corporate relocations and expansions. The stae of Illinois has been the 2nd ranked atate for numerous years in a row. The housing market in Chicago and many other areas of Illinois is top or among the top for growth in the nation. Yes we need more housing but you cant have growth without demand. Chicago metro used to be 2nd in the nstion in fortune 500 HQs, oh, it still is 2nd today. The city of chicago itself was 4th until it passed Atlanta last year to move into 3rd. The doom and gloom is absolutely pathetic. Oh, and yes, crime is down. That isnt a debate. How pathetic does someone have to be to make up reasons whybsomething they dont want to believe isnt true? - Chicagonk - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 10:31 am: Did the state try anything to keep Tyson from closing the Joslin plant? Hopefully they can identify someone else to set up shop. - Frank Manzo IV - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 10:32 am: Who asked this question? It isn’t even close to correct. Seasonally-adjusted nonfarm payroll employment change from January 2025 to January 2026 (first year of Trump 2.0)… Texas: +95,800 Florida: -28,500 Tennessee: +4,400 New York: +38,800 Illinois: -3,900 Indiana: -15,600 Iowa: -18,900 Wisconsin: -17,500 From Jan-2024 to Jan-2025 (last Biden year)… Texas: +217,400 Florida: +111,300 Tennessee: +22,400 New York: +165,500 Illinois: +37,800 Indiana: +18,100 Iowa: +10,300 Wisconsin: +21,300 Source: https://www.bls.gov/data/home.htm#employment So “Do you agree with that data?” The answer should have been, “No, because it’s wrong.” - ChicagoBars - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 10:33 am: Resoectfully to Thomas Paine & Co… I think Chicago anchored NE Illinois has been the jobs problem for Illinois since at least 2022? At least if I’m reading BLS data correctly. If you use the bigger Chicago-Naperville-Elgin data Chicago looks better at job creation but that includes chinks of surrounding states. If you use the smaller Chicago-Arlington Heights data job creation looks worse. https://www.bls.gov/regions/midwest/news-release/AreaEmployment_Chicago.htm How that might be happening in Chicago? Whole other post/debate. - ZC - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 10:36 am: One tiny slice of a big issue: I was struck reading this summer 2026 New York Times piece linked to below, about a hi tech manufacturing boom around Columbus, OH, and thinking, “Why can’t we have more of that in Illinois?” More I read into the article, though, and re Incandenza’s point above, I realized part of it was, “Oh, Ohio seems to completely snow / shut out input from its local residents, as much as possible, when they’re chasing these smokestacks. Can’t worry about NIMBY if the localities have no say, or are kept in the dark about what’s coming.” And I think we’re seeing a little bit of that mindset coming back to bite everyone, with the race to attract data centers, where even residents in deep red states are saying to their state Republicans, “Wait a sec, I didn’t sign up for this.” Hopefully there’s a Goldilocks approach to be had, where we give more leeway to businesses to grow and develop how they need, but where localities are not totally cut out of any direct say over how those businesses conduct themselves. Not that I’m really optimistic IL can strike that balance. But there are tradeoffs either way, is my point https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/05/business/ohio-tech-manufacturing-hub.html - Grandson of Man - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 11:05 am: Red states are dependent on Democratic national governments and policies for better job growth. This has been the case for decades. Especially now. It ain’t unions and Democrats repeatedly weakening the economy for the entire country. - Larry Bowa Jr. - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 11:12 am: “Did the state try anything to keep Tyson from closing the Joslin plant?” How much money do you think the state of Illinois should have given Tyson Foods to keep a small town plant open? All these years I was taught that small town/rural Americans are the hardwood that holds the country upright. I can’t believe Joslin lacks for bootstraps. - Hmmmm - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 11:19 am: @Downstate “The canary in the coal mine isn’t being discussed.” Re: demographic cliffs in education - these aren’t unique to Illinois. The 2008 financial crisis did major damage for young people’s ability to buy homes and start families, and we never recovered from it. Now the economic conditions exacerbated by COVID, Iran, etc. are ensuring we never recover. Me personally, I’d love to have kids and have a home (or at least an apartment I own) in a city in Illinois, and send them to Illinois public schools and universities. Both dreams are financially impossible for me, and I make just above the median income for the state. - CapnCrunch - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 11:22 am: “Red states are dependent on Democratic national governments and policies for better job growth….” Seasonally-adjusted nonfarm payroll employment change from: January 2024 to January 2025 (last Biden year)… Texas: +217,400 Florida: +111,300 January 2025 to January 2026 (first year of Trump 2.0)… Texas: +95,800 Florida: -28,500 Well, maybe not. - ZC - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 11:43 am: Hmmmm is correct; affordable housing is a mess in Illinois currently. You can’t build a business and attract people who can’t afford to live in the neighborhood. Note of course this is one place where to his credit JB has tried (maybe not enough) to cut local red tape and proposed reforms to make it easier for people to buy cheaper housing in IL, and it’s unleashed howls of protests from many suburban Republicans, hasn’t it. - Brandon - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 11:59 am: @CapnCrunch Why dont you zoom out instead of cherrypick? Why dont you check in total blue state federal contributions to red state? Could it be because that throws a complete wrench in your cherry picked stat? In total, blue states are donor states that literally and figuratively subsidize red states. Without blue states, red states would not survive. Literally. It just blows my mind that people like you would rather lie and deceive than realize the policies you support stink, and therefor change your vote for what works better. - Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 12:03 pm: “Why wuould there be such a difference in raw job numbers compared to Florida , Tennessee, and Texas?” Climate. 100 years ago, people had to live where they could produce a lot of food. Now people have the ability to live places that can completely avoid winter, or have beautiful mountain ranges but do not produce a whole lot of food. Illinois, and the rust belt generally, will struggle to keep people due to the very weak(snark) that must avoid winter at all costs. - DougChicago - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 12:07 pm: It seems to me, honestly, that people want to be where the weather is (or is perceived to be) nicer. And where things are (or are perceived to be) not quite as stodgy as the midwest. Once that ball gets rolling, especially for younger people, it becomes herd mentality. Of course, around the edges, we could do things — things that the Democrats that control the state won’t do — to make this a friendlier business environment. But that will be in the face of people wanting to move to where other people want to be. And, of course, as bad as Pritzker is, Bailey is not the solution. We are simply doomed to mediocrity (at best). - Paul Peterson - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 12:11 pm: Each dollar the state contributes for roads used by white downstate Republicans is wasted? Illinois is over 72% white what does race have to do with anything? - Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 12:14 pm: ===Climate=== That’s one reason. But people looking to make money on real estate flips have been traveling to Florida for a century or more. - CapnCrunch - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 12:30 pm: “….Without blue states, red states would not survive. Literally….” Yup. Without California, New York, and Illinois, Texas would have to find another source of immigrants. - Give Us Barabbas - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 1:08 pm: There’s a lot of factors involved. One of those is energy, and energy costs. Big manufacturers need an educated workforce, which we have, but they also need cheap electricity, and we’re starting to run short of it. The state needs to remain a net energy exporter, not importer. For me that means updating the nuclear powerplant fleet which is aging-out, and adding to the mix of renewables as well. A stable grid with affordable power also helps citizen consumers, besides attracting heavy industry. - DuPage Saint - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 1:18 pm: Seriously the invention of air conditioning is what has caused the southern states to grow and the southwest also I don’t think people would be moving there to enjoy the 100 degree weather and work in high rise without a c - DupageDem - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 1:24 pm: JB has done a C- or D+ job on the economy. It’s why he doesn’t have a sniff in 28. Four years from now, he will continue to blame Rauner. The entire economic model is broken. - Paul Peterson - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 1:38 pm: Central air has been available in commercial buildings since the late 1920’s and fairly routine since the 1950’s The rush to the sun belt happened decades later You can dress for the winter in the North, it’s not possible to dress to make a summer in Arizona or Florida comfortable most days - Remember the Alamo II - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 1:52 pm: === JB has done a C- or D+ job on the economy. === Illinois has experienced a number of credit rating increases during his tenure. This was after Rauner ran our finances into the ground. I think your assessment is unfair, considering that so much of the overall economic success in this country depends on the policies of the federal government. - City Zen - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 2:04 pm: ==Seasonally-adjusted nonfarm payroll employment change from January 2025 to January 2026== The only employment numbers that matter is from January 2019 onwards, when JB took office. And the data shows job growth has been abysmal under Pritzker. WOrse, after seven years, he still doesn’t have an answer. And it it wasn’t for govt and govt-related jobs, it would be even worse. - Streator Curmudgeon - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 2:11 pm: I’m curious. Do the commenters on this thread who are critical of Pritzker think Darren Bailey is capable of doing better? - Think Again - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 2:36 pm: = to his credit JB has tried (maybe not enough) to cut local red tape= Are you kidding? JB’s “Build Up Illinois Development” plan would have forced every locality to create totally new zoning regs that most locals hate - that’s the definition of Red tape https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/03/02/pritzker-proposal-for-statewide-zoning-called-crazy-by-one-official-as-municipalities-react-to-housing-plan/ - Brandon - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 3:05 pm: @Think Again Do you think lying about something makes it true? It loosens zoning regulations across the state to allow denser developments across the state. And rural and suburban areas are having a fit about it despite also complaining about housing and property tax costs. Stop lying - No relation - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 3:24 pm: Streator - In my mind there is no comparison between Pritzker and Bailey and I believe Pritzker is the best governor we have had in the last 20 years. That said looking at growth of employment in IL since Jan 2022 to Jan 2026 we rank in the bottom quartile if we go back to Jan 2020 to Jan 2026 we are in the bottom 10%, the trend is good but there is still room for improvement. From Jan 2024 to Jan 26 our rate of growth is still 1/2 of the US rate and we are in the bottom quartile. I have been out of the classroom since 2013 and I believe if one of my student performed in the bottom quartile they would have been awarded an C at the best. JB has the potential to be an A student and has shown it in several topics but the economy he is being beat by his peers in other states. - Ed - Thursday, Oct 15, 26 @ 5:56 pm: “The GOP regions of the state are hemorraging jobs.” Much of what are now GOP regions in downstate used to be Dem regions until so many people tired of being ignored and the corruption in Springfield and Chicago. TrackBack URI Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.