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* A mostly upbeat economic assessment from the Illinois Policy Institute? Yep…
Illinois gained a net 14,700 payroll jobs in March, putting Illinois in the black for jobs in 2016, according to March data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The state unemployment rate rose to 6.5 percent in March from 6.4 percent in February, driven by an increase of 9,600 Illinoisans who are unemployed.
Illinois’ March payroll jobs report revealed a second strong month in a row for the state. Illinois added 14,700 jobs on net, with significant gains in leisure and hospitality (+6,300); construction (+4,100); financial activities (+3,200); and trade, transportation and utilities (+2,800). Manufacturing was the only sector to show significant job losses (-3,100) with losses also coming from professional and business services (-1,400).
Illinois’ household survey data, which estimates the raw number of people employed and unemployed regardless of industry, showed Illinois’ workforce grew by 37,700 in March, with employment growing by 28,100 and unemployment growing by 9,600. The growth in the number of unemployed people is the reason the state’s unemployment rate ticked up in March to 6.5 percent from February’s 6.4 percent.
Given that Illinois’ workforce shrank consistently during the recession era, the recent expansion of the workforce is a positive sign, despite the fact that the growing workforce is contributing to Illinois’ rising unemployment rate
I almost choked.
* This may be why…
Illinois’ workforce contracted by over 225,000 from before the beginning of the Great Recession and shrank by 61,000 in 2014 alone. The state’s workforce bottomed out in January 2015, just as Gov. Bruce Rauner took office. But since January 2015, Illinois’ workforce has grown by an impressive 157,400. It’s not immediately clear whether there is a relationship between the expansion of the state’s labor force and Rauner’s tenure as governor. However, a change in workforce sentiment has occurred, and this warrants further investigation.
A commenter wondered whether this represented a “pivot” to the Rauner is great and wonderful for Illinois! rhetoric.
If not, that’s pretty much what it will look like when it happens.
* But it wasn’t all upbeat…
The manufacturing sector shed jobs in most states in the region, with Illinois having the second-worst loss of any state. Only Wisconsin had an especially strong showing on the manufacturing front, gaining more than 4,000 manufacturing jobs. […]
Illinois continues to have the weakest manufacturing recovery in the region. All states experienced a manufacturing jobs bottom in 2009 or 2010. Since each state’s respective bottom, though, Illinois has had the worst manufacturing jobs recovery.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 19, 16 @ 10:16 am
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Let’s see the sector breakout for those jobs. If the jobs are living wage jobs then we are going somewhere. If they are low-wage jobs then we are just going to sink slower.
Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Apr 19, 16 @ 10:19 am
It is an entirely interesting observation if this is the pivot towards positive by IPI. Very interesting.
Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Apr 19, 16 @ 10:20 am
Thanks IPI, I almost had started to think that Rauner’s presence was not having a positive impact…
/s
Comment by Saluki Tuesday, Apr 19, 16 @ 10:20 am
And if you think these numbers are good, wait until Rauner actually does something!
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 19, 16 @ 10:23 am
These numbers are easy to find. Chicago metro is doing well right now. Peak employment last year and this year. I’m afraid what Madigan has in store for the state will destroy the progress made in the last two years.
http://www.bls.gov/regions/midwest/il_chicago_md.htm
Comment by Tone Tuesday, Apr 19, 16 @ 10:26 am
If this is so great why do we need the turnaround agenda?
Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Apr 19, 16 @ 10:27 am
correlation does not prove causation.
Comment by Facts are Stubborn Things Tuesday, Apr 19, 16 @ 10:27 am
Look at the manufacturing sector. It’s still in free fall. That’s why we need the turnaround agenda.
Comment by Tone Tuesday, Apr 19, 16 @ 10:28 am
Tone,that’ll change when we eliminate child labor laws and the minimum wage. Then we’ll be competitive with Vietnamese sweatshops. I really hope you are trolling. No one can be that obtuse.
Comment by Me too Tuesday, Apr 19, 16 @ 10:33 am
====== a “pivot” to the Rauner is great and wonderful for illinois! Rhetoric====
Absurd. How could ANYONE even imagine that deteriorating infrastructure and falling credit policies implemented by Rauner are good for an economy. Someone needs a class in formal logic.
Comment by Union Man Tuesday, Apr 19, 16 @ 10:37 am
At least such stats blow up the IPI propaganda that IL will never recover w/o cuts to Workman’s Comp insurance, right to work zones, decrease in union influence and high property tax rates.
Cubs beat the Cards last night, IPI and Bruce? The Fat Lady’s warming her voice!
Comment by Union Man Tuesday, Apr 19, 16 @ 10:40 am
==It’s not immediately clear whether there is a relationship between the expansion of the state’s labor force and Rauner’s tenure as governor.==
It’s immediately clear that there is NO relationship between the expansion of the state’s labor force and Rauner’s tenure as governor. What has he done to make anything better?
Comment by IllinoisBoi Tuesday, Apr 19, 16 @ 10:42 am
–It’s not immediately clear whether there is a relationship between the expansion of the state’s labor force and Rauner’s tenure as governor. However, a change in workforce sentiment has occurred, and this warrants further investigation.–
LOL, subtle, that pivot. Throw-your-back-out pivot.
Anyone — what is “workforce sentiment” in relationship to job growth and how does one go about “further investigation” regarding it?
As to Midwest manufacturing, I’m not sure how you can go on and on about the Great Recession and the recovery rate without even mentioning the auto bailout.
The Detroit Big 3 sold more vehicles in 2015 than any year in history. That’s a lot of years, a lot of history and the most vehicles ever.
That would seem to be a significant factor in regards to Midwest manufacturing.
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2016/01/05/auto-sales/78295542/
Also, for some objective, long-term reporting on manufacturing, National Association of Manufacturers has a nifty website. Despite what IPI says, Illinois manufacturing output has grown substantially post-recession.
http://www.nam.org/Data-and-Reports/State-Manufacturing-Data/
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 19, 16 @ 10:57 am
IPI leading the messaging tango?
Woulda thought the IDES spokesperson would have been the first to pivot to the “Illinois is Back — because Rauner” message.
Comment by walker Tuesday, Apr 19, 16 @ 11:24 am
Other commenters have said it, but it bears repeating: higher job numbers without the Turnaround Agenda do not vindicate the Governor. In fact, it seems that we can have job growth without the Turnaround Agenda.
Comment by the Other Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 19, 16 @ 11:44 am
We have the strongest job growth in 20 years without a state budget. And the turnaround agenda will help with manufacturing jobs, Illinois is losing those as they grow around the country.
Comment by Tone Tuesday, Apr 19, 16 @ 11:52 am
Is it still time for Illinois to abolish the minimum wage, as IPI advocates?
Comment by Albany Park Patriot Tuesday, Apr 19, 16 @ 12:05 pm
==We have the strongest job growth in 20 years without a state budget==
Yes. That’s exactly why it’s happening. Pulled that brilliant analysis out of your backside didn’t you.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 19, 16 @ 12:56 pm
notice we lost a lot of jobs Before the inc tax went up……
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Apr 19, 16 @ 4:59 pm