Recovery Summer and Stimulus: Illinois

Continuing on the Recovery Summer and Stimulus: State by State, we head to Illinois.

Quick Illinois facts:

• In January of 2009, the unemployment rate in Illinois was 8.1%. As of June 30, 2010, the unemployment rate was 10.4%–a net increase of 2.3%! (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• According to Recovery.gov, Illinois has received 8,262 awards. This has resulted in $8,407,105,524 being spent to create/save 21,628.75* jobs (Source: Recovery.gov)
• As of June 2010, the labor force in Illinois has increased by 53,905 people since January of 2009. While the labor force has increased, so has unemployment. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• According to the Recovery Summer Map, Illinois boasts only 2 “Summer of Recovery” projects! For a state that has seen its unemployment rate increase by over 2% in only a year and a half, one would think this number would have been greater.
• The number of people employed in Illinois has fallen by 102,431 people! (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• The Obama administration projected the change in jobs by December 31, 2010 to be +148,000 jobs. To date, Illinois has lost 171,100 jobs. (Source: Ways & Means Republicans)

The employment trend in Illinois has not been good. Beginning towards the end of 2009, a “recovery” can be seen in the below chart. But by the time the “Summer of Recovery” rolled around, the “recovery” came to an end as quickly as it had began. The employment trend is heading down as the summer wears on. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)