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 “With national unemployment below 5 percent, it is completely
unacceptable that Illinois’ unemployment rate rose in January to
over 6 percent. While the rest of the country is working and
growing, Illinois is being left behind. Many communities in our
state are experiencing unemployment rates of 8 or even 9 percent. We
must take action to jumpstart growth, and create jobs and economic
opportunity for Illinois families.
Illinois represents some of the best this country has to offer, with
an outstanding workforce, a transportation system that connects
businesses to domestic and international markets, and a strong base
of natural resources. Based solely on our assets, Illinois should be
the most competitive state in the country and an engine for economic
growth. Despite these advantages, Illinois lags in job creation,
ranking 29th out of 50 states.
We cannot continue failed policies that have stymied economic growth
in Illinois for years, driving businesses, jobs and residents to
friendlier states. We need structural reforms to address the high
cost of doing business in Illinois.
Traditional Illinois industries such as manufacturing are being
driven out of the state, and taking thousands of jobs with them, due
to out of control workers compensation costs and the second highest
property taxes in the nation. We must make Illinois more competitive
in order to reverse the flow of jobs out of our state and encourage
growth and investment in Illinois.
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We must take a new approach to economic development in Illinois and adapt to the
21st century needs of businesses. In addition to Governor Rauner’s proposed
structural reforms, Illinois will benefit from the recently created Illinois
Business and Economic Development Corporation, which will assist the Department
of Commerce in marketing our many assets in order to encourage job creation and
investment in Illinois. We look forward to collaborating with the Corporation to
advance economic development and growth in Illinois. ”
[Illinois Department of Commerce &
Economic Opportunity]
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