(The Center Square) – Amid new reports that Chicago led the state in mass layoffs, a policy researcher says state leaders could do a lot to make Illinois more attractive to businesses and workers.
Illinois companies announced 1,183 mass layoffs in August, according to the Illinois Policy Institute. Of the 1,183 layoffs, 443 hit Chicago.
“Even though the homicide rate is down, the violent crime rates are still very high, and that causes fear in a lot of prospective employees who want to move to the state or that city, specifically. That adds more reasons for businesses to not want to come here or leave the state,” said Policy Researcher at Illinois Policy Institute Ravi Mishra.
Illinois’ unemployment rate for August tied for the second-worst in the U.S., jumping to 5.3%, according to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This translates to 343,000 Illinoisans looking for work. Mishra said the manufacturing industry was hit the worst.
“Typically these things do tend to affect lower-paid employees, it just comes down to the fact that higher-paid employees have more economic mobility,” said Mishra. “Lower paid employees are less likely to leave the state if a company is switching over to a different state.”