Chicagoland Chamber Of Commerce: Letter To The Governor Of The State Of Illinois On The Employers Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Press release from the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce:

Jul 14, 2021

Dear Governor Pritzker,

During the pandemic, states suspended their work search requirements for those who were unemployed and the federal government supplied an extra $300 per week in unemployment insurance benefits. This was an understandable reaction given the pandemic. Recognizing that the worst of the pandemic is behind us and at least 56% of Illinoisans 18 years of age or older are fully vaccinated and 72% having received at least one shot, the Illinois economy is now re-opened.

However, Illinois employers of all types and sizes are struggling to attract needed employees resulting in reduced hours and lost sales. Those lost sales directly impact the budgets of the state and units of local government. Before we lose any more economic ground, now is the time to reinstate normal unemployment insurance operations, including work search requirements, and benefit levels.

In Illinois alone, there are tens of thousands of unfilled jobs. Employers are offering substantially higher wages, employment bonuses and taking other steps to encourage people to return to work. The problem is employers cannot compete with the approximate $35 per hour unemployed workers have received over the last four months as a result of enhanced UI benefits, tax credits, and stimulus payments. Most employers cannot compete with those benefits, which equate to $35 per hour, no matter how much wishful thinking is applied.

In order to remove the artificial brakes being applied to Illinois’ economy, the members of the respective organizations listed below respectfully request the following actions be taken without delay:

We thank you for the attention we know you will give this request and the timely actions we believe you will take to re-ignite the Illinois economy for the benefit of all.

Sincerely,

ROB KARR, PRESIDENT, ILLINOIS RETAIL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATIIONMARK DENZLER, PRESIDENT, ILLINOIS MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATIONJACK LAVIN, PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CHICAGOLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCETODD MAISH, ILLINOIS CHAMBER OF COMMERCEWILLIAM FREY, ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF ILLINOISMARK GRANT, NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESSTECHNOLOGY & MANUFACTURING ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS, INC.ILLINOIS LICENSED BEVERAGE ASSOCIATIONVALLEY INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATIONAUTOMOTIVE PARTS & SERVICE ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOISMIDWEST-SOUTHEASTERN EQUIPMENT DEALERS ASSOCIATIONILLINOIS LUMBER AND MATERIAL DEALERS ASSOCIATION ILLINOIS FUEL & RETAIL ASSOCIATIONCHEMICAL INDUSTRY COUNCIL OF ILLINOISMIDWEST HARDWARE ASSOCIATIONILLINOIS HOTEL & LODGING ASSOCIATIONTHE GREATER SPRINGFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCETHE QUAD CITIES CHAMBERSOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATIONNAPERVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCEILLINOIS AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATIONJOLIET REGION CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

This press release was produced by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.