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NFIB state director Mark Grant said their members are
disappointed that Gov. J.B. Pritzker and legislative leaders
haven’t done more to address the worsening problem.
“It is disappointing for our members that the folks that run the
state from a political and governmental standpoint haven’t done
something to address that,” said Grant.
Enhanced federal unemployment benefits have been blamed for
keeping potential workers on the sidelines. Twenty-five states
have ended the program, trying to encourage more people to
reenter the workforce.
President Joe Biden has rejected the argument, saying “Americans
want to work.”
Pritzker was asked in May whether Illinois would be ending the
benefits early, and he indicated not likely.
“Our job here is to make sure we’re creating jobs and helping
people to rebuild the lives they had before the pandemic, and so
we’re not going to pull the rug out from under people,” said
Pritzker.
The index also showed that job creation plans over the next
three months rose to a net of 27%, up six points, and owners
expecting better business conditions over the next six months
fell 11 points to a net negative of 26%.
Grant said he has heard from members that have been forced to
cut hours because of the lack of available employees.
“Ironic and sad at the same time that last year at this time we
had COVID that was keeping our businesses from being open, and
now when they can open up fully, they're having a tough time
keeping the hours because they don’t have the staff,” Grant
said.
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