The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) preliminary jobs report for September 2022 shows that Illinois had approximately 6,083,100 nonfarm payroll jobs in the recently-concluded month. This job total generated a September unemployment figure of 4.5%. While new jobs were created in September in the fields of professional services, educational and health services, and government, there were net losses of Illinois jobs in the sectors of information science and leisure/hospitality.
Illinois’ job-creation rate and job retention numbers continued to lag behind the figures posted by neighboring and comparable states. The nationwide U.S. unemployment rate was 3.5% in September 2022, 100 basis points below the rate in Illinois.
Questioned by Crain’s Chicago Business, Gov. Pritzker admitted that Illinois’ job growth has fallen behind the new jobs created in other states. The governor stated that Illinois’ reputation for high taxes, and the reputation of Illinois (especially the Chicago area) for high rates of crime and violent crime, are discouraging potential investors from creating jobs in Illinois.
Tesla leases large warehouse space in Pontoon Beach, Illinois. Industry reports indicate no plans by the global electric-vehicle (EV) manufacturer to open assembly or battery operations in Illinois. While the firm has not made a public announcement about its plans, Tesla help-wanted ads tagged to ‘Pontoon Beach’ are asking for persons with experience as senior and specialist material handlers to submit their names and references. This is an indication that the 667,000-sq-ft Metro-East industrial space now controlled by Tesla will be used as a parts distribution hub. The Tesla-leased facilityis strategically located near the junction of Interstate 255 and Interstate 270.