In August 2020, an Illinois Policy Institute analysis predicted Illinois employment would fail to return to pre-pandemic levels unless women returned to the workforce. The pandemic business and school closures had disproportionately hurt working women, especially minorities, so those who left in greater numbers would be crucial for the recovery.
Now more than a year later, it is indeed Illinois’ women, and especially minority women, who are driving the state’s employment recovery.
Of the net increase in employment during the past year, 96% was because of jobs filled by women and 75% of those women were minorities.
Preliminary data shows Illinois labor market beats expectations in October
Illinois has now experienced 10 consecutive months of employment growth, but at a slower pace than the rest of the country.
Illinois added 40,900 jobs from mid-September through mid-October, according to preliminary data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
The only job sectors to lose were the information sector and the educational and health sector.
Read more from Illinois Policy here.
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