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Posts tagged "unemployment"

Illinois may kick families off welfare after three years

What happens to a poor family when they get kicked off welfare? 3,000 Illinois families may find out as of July 1st if the state goes ahead with its proposal to cut the budget by reducing the time limit for receiving cash assistance from five years to just three. It’s a way to save money... Read more »
By MeganCottrell,
Friday at 10:20 am
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Barber Shop Show preview: Bill seeks to seal criminal records to prevent "permanent underclass"

Barber Shop Show preview: Bill seeks to seal criminal records to prevent "permanent underclass"
While working with ex-offenders as an attorney in North Lawndale, Melissa L. Williams was continually frustrated. Many of the individuals she saw in front of her day in and day out were looking for jobs and the economic security that came with it, but had criminal records that, once discovered, became barriers to employment. “We... Read more »
By YanaKunichoff,
March 28, 2012 at 9:56 am
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Another state decides to drug test the downtrodden

Add one more to the ranks of states that are slated to start drug testing recipients of public assistance. A South Carolina Senate panel has approved legislation that would drug test applicants for unemployment benefits and require them to do at least 16 hours a week of community service. A Mississippi state senator is also... Read more »
By MeganCottrell,
January 12, 2012 at 4:26 pm
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Job market continues to be harder for black folks

The national unemployment news looks good. Well, better. In December 2011, we ducked down to 8.5 percent, down from a steady nine. But the story’s different if you’re black. Every racial and gender group saw declining unemployment during 2011, except black folks. The black unemployment rate held steady, and in Illinois, the most recent data... Read more »
By MeganCottrell,
January 10, 2012 at 3:58 pm
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40,000 jobs for 25 cents? A new plan for job growth in Chicago

40,000 jobs for 25 cents? A new plan for job growth in Chicago
If you thought Occupy Wall Street was just a New York thing, think again. Today, a week-long action will start, highlighting some of Chicago’s major problems: high unemployment, lack of affordable housing, and a poor public school system. Stand Up Chicago will bring together thousands of protesters this afternoon, converging on a meeting of the... Read more »
By MeganCottrell,
October 10, 2011 at 2:17 pm
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Job training program caters to an emerging group of unemployed

Only in its second year, Chicago Career Tech, a job training program for unemployed Chicagoans, is seeing the number of applicants grow exponentially. Unlike other programs, the nonprofit focuses its services on an emerging group of unemployed: Those who, until recent economic downturn, held a job earning middle-income wages. Since its launch in 2010, roughly... Read more »
By CRIntern,
September 9, 2011 at 4:32 pm
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Double-dips, recessions and recoveries

Double-dips, recessions and recoveries
It’s the phrase of the week: “double-dip recession.” A search for those three terms at Google News earlier this afternoon returned 8,150 results. “Auto stocks plummet on double-dip recession fears” went a recent headline in USA Today. “Time to Say It: Double Dip Recession May Be Happening” The New York Times titled a post at... Read more »
By Micah Maidenberg,
August 10, 2011 at 3:23 pm
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Dropping home prices don't make homes more affordable for newly hired

Dropping home prices don't make homes more affordable for newly hired
A couple of weeks ago, we asked the question: What kind of jobs are being added to the economy? If the economy’s not purging jobs like it has been in the last few years, are the jobs being created something you can afford to live on? For the most part, the answer was no. The... Read more »
By MeganCottrell,
August 5, 2011 at 10:29 am
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Why the widening wealth gap is no big surprise to Chicago

Why the widening wealth gap is no big surprise to Chicago
Big and terrible news yesterday: the wealth gap between white people and minorities is widening. It was already wide – enormous, in fact. But it’s gotten worse. Take a look at the graph at the top. Every group has taken a hit since 2005 because of the recession. But the net worth of Hispanic and... Read more »
By MeganCottrell,
July 27, 2011 at 3:21 pm
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At jobs hearing, grim statistics, frustration, cries for help

At jobs hearing, grim statistics, frustration, cries for help
A special legislative hearing held today in Chicago started with a grim set of numbers. Like this one: The overall unemployment rate in Illinois stood at 10.3 percent last year, an analyst from the Illinois Department of Employment Security told members of the Illinois House of Representatives’ Small Business Empowerment and Workforce Development Committee. Unemployment... Read more »
By Micah Maidenberg,
July 26, 2011 at 4:52 pm
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