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ILLINOIS
STILL MISSING 251,900 JOBS SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN
Illinois Policy Institute/
Bryce Hill
Despite adding 262,600 jobs in 2021,
Illinois is still a long way off from a full recovery from the COVID-19
economic downturn.
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 Illinois’ recovery is still not
what it should be, with 251,900 jobs still missing since the pandemic began
despite adding 262,600 jobs in 2021.
The biggest 2021 gain was in the battered leisure and hospitality job sector,
with 126,000 jobs added for a 31% increase, according to data released Jan. 21
by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The data shows Illinois is
making progress after the severe economic downturn that followed the COVID-19
pandemic and government mandated shutdowns. Virtually all industries saw growth
in 2021, with only mining showing no growth and the financial services sector
declining.
The areas of the economy most hurt
by COVID-19 in 2020 were the areas of the economy to see the most job creation
as government stimulus and pent-up demand drove personal consumption to hit
all-time highs and economic restrictions were gradually eased.
However, Illinois is still a long way off of pre-pandemic job levels, with
251,900 jobs still missing since January 2020 when nonfarm payrolls peaked.
While the effects of job losses are still being significantly felt in nearly
every industry, the leisure and hospitality industry remains the farthest off a
full recovery, still missing 95,700 jobs. Educational and health services remain
down 54,800 jobs.
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Only the construction
(+6,100) and transportation, warehousing and utilities (+37,500)
sectors have made full employment recoveries. Wholesale and retail
trade, which are the other components of the trade, transportation
and utilities sector, remain down 20,500 jobs collectively.
While politicians, most notably the Biden Administration, have tried
to portray the 2021 figures as a monumental achievement in record
economic growth, the fact is the nation, and particularly Illinois,
remain in worse condition now than at the beginning of 2020. Only
Texas, Arizona, Utah and Idaho have recouped their pandemic job
losses.
Making matters even worse for Illinois, record outmigration and
population decline threaten to prevent the state’s economy from ever
returning to pre-pandemic employment levels. |
