Chambana Sun

Recent figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that Danville's employment registered a loss of over more than 1,000 from January 2019 to June 2022. 

GOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey promised to work with the city's officials to provide new job opportunities.

“Danville has lost 1,675 jobs during the four years of J.B. Pritzker," Bailey said. "If you want to see what JB’s legacy is – go to any town in Illinois and see the boarded-up storefronts. That is JB Pritzker's legacy. Political insiders and influence peddlers have all done well during JB’s administration, but those outside of that sphere are hurting. Nearly 50% of small business owners in Illinois are worried about their financial futures. We have to do better. Danville is a vibrant, diverse community. The residents there deserve better than the inept policies of the Pritzker administration. As governor, I will work with leaders in Danville to create new jobs and new opportunities in that community.”

The latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate employment drops across Illinois from January 2019 to June 2022. Danville's lowered by 5.3% (from 31,359 to 29,684, difference of 1,675). Kankakee had the largest decline in employment at 6.4% (from 52,830 to 49,431, a difference of 3,399) and Rockford comes in second with a 6.2% decline in employment numbers (from 158,466 to 148,575, a difference of 9,891). 

Decatur like Rockford, dropped by 6.2% (from 46,492 to 43,628, difference of 2,864), Peoria's decreased by 4.5% (from 168,268 to 160,778, difference of 7,490), Carbondale-Marion's decreased by 2.9% (from 57,715 to 56,052, difference of 1,663), Davenport-Moline-Rock Island's decreased by 2.4% (from 186,409 to 181,871, difference of 4,538), Chicago-Naperville-Elgin's dropped by 1.7% (from 4,788,931 to 4,707,375, difference of 81,556), Springfield recorded a 1.5% employment drop (from 102,108 to 100,529, difference of 1,579) and Bloomington's dropped by 1.2% (from 92,184 to 91,105, difference of 1,079). Champaign-Urbana was the only area that had an increase in employment numbers but only by 0.2% (from 118,669 to 118,888, a difference of 219).

Bailey also slammed Gov. J.B. Pritzker for tightening rules governing temporary employees like babysitters and caregivers. He argued that the last thing Illinoisans need "is more red tape, more rules and more regulations." Bailey suggested that for Illinois to have economic growth and become "a leader for jobs and opportunities in the Midwest, we need to prioritize policies that will create jobs, not jeopardize the ones we have." He said that "Pritzker’s priorities are misguided" and that "silly bureaucratic rules won’t grow our economy." 

"Families are wondering how to afford to gas up their cars and purchase basic household necessities and the focus of the Pritzker administration is making sure people fill out time sheets for their nannies?" Bailey stated, Prairie State Wire reported. "It is no wonder we are losing jobs and opportunities here in Illinois.” 

Boeing, the most renowned producer of aircraft, among other companies, has announced its exit from Illinois, NBC 5 Chicago reported. The enormous aerospace business, which had its beginnings in Washington, moved to Chicago in 2001. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the loss of close to 16,000 employees or more than 10% of the whole workforce of the organization.

Caterpillar, another known company, announced the relocation of its corporate headquarters to Irving, Texas on June 14. According to Caterpillar's chairman and CEO Jim Umpleby, the decision was made with the company's "strategic interest" in mind. Caterpillar said that just the 230 employees at the corporate office would be impacted, according to Chicago Tribune.

Citadel Securities, a company notably owned by Pritzker's vocal billionaire opponent, stated that its move to Miami from Chicago was based on insecurity. 

“The firms are having difficulty recruiting top talent from across the world to Chicago given the rising and senseless violence in the city,” Zia Ahmed, a Citadel spokesman, told The New York Times. “Talent wants to live in cities where they feel safe.”