Afni, Inc. of Bloomington will be holding a job fair to fill several customer service jobs in Illinois.
Afni, Inc. is a leading provider of contact center solutions and receivables management services to many of the nation’s largest companies. Afni is a privately-held company headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, with facilities in Illinois, Arizona, Kentucky, Texas, Missouri, and Alabama.

They’re looking to fill about 200 positions at a new facility in Leesburg, officials said. It has scheduled an on-site job fair from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at 425 N. Third St. in Leesburg. (more…)

Employers announced plans to cut 1,413 jobs in April, which will allow many residents to hold on to Illinois jobs (click here).

This is considered a major improvement over the 10,329 that were announced in March amid sharp cuts from school systems.

Illinois unemployment increased sharply in March.

The number was also down more than threefold from a year earlier, when 4,915 cuts were announced, according to the latest report from Chicago-based outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
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A bill on Governor Pat Quinn’s desk could generate enough money to save Illinois law enforcement jobs.

According to Representative Jim Sacia, the bill would allow Illinois State Police to get a portion of fines assessed when someone pleads guilty and pays a traffic ticket written by their troopers.

Currently, 44% of the fine you pay goes to the county or municipality in which the ticket is issued. Out of the remaining 56%, an administrative fee is paid to the Circuit Clerk. ISP does not get any of that money. The bill would make sure ISP gets a portion equal to the amount the Circuit Clerk is getting.

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Illinois plans a record $5 billion in road work in the next fiscal year, which will open up thousands of construction jobs in Illinois.

Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig on Thursday said that will be a record amount.

Gov. Pat Quinn announced a five-year, $12.84 billion highway improvement program for 2011 to 2016.

State Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig said the $5 billion number isn’t limited to projects that will be started and completed this year. It includes projects begun earlier, but not yet completed and also projects that will start this year, but not be completed for several construction seasons.

Still, Hannig said, just a couple of years ago, the comparable number was less than $3 billion.

That includes $2.5 billion for the budget year that begins July 1. Combined with existing work, it will be a record construction year.

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The Illinois unemployment rate increased slightly to 11.4 percent in February, up one-tenth from the January rate of 11.3 percent, according to data released today by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

The rate was seasonally adjusted.

“Not surprisingly, the February figures continue to reflect fluctuation,” IDES Director Maureen O’Donnell said. “We are encouraged by the slowing pace of job loss but need a few more months of data before we can confidently assess the path this recovery intends to take.”

Illinois’ unemployment rate is at its highest level since July 1983. The three-month moving average, a more stable measure of labor market activity, also increased one-tenth to 11.2 percent, its highest level since September 1983.

The state continues to lead the nation, which had 9.7 percent unemployment in February. Still, the monthly increases appear to be slowing.

“The job losses are beginning to moderate,” said IDES spokesman Greg Rivara.

Illinois had about 5.6 million non-farm jobs in February, down 192,200 from the same month a year ago. Nearly every sector took a hit, except educational and health services, which showed a 14,900 gain from a year ago. Manufacturing jobs were down 55,300; professional and business services down 36,300; and construction down 35,400 since February 2009.

Last week, the agency reported that statewide unemployment had reached 12.2 percent, but the figures were not yet seasonally adjusted. That means the numbers need to be seasonally adjusted to reflect the so-called peaks and valleys of the season or the weather. That makes it possible to provide a fair comparison, Rivara said

There were -900 fewer jobs in Illinois in February. The three-month moving average of payroll employment, a broader view of job creation, was up +300. Job losses continued in the Construction sector. Job gains were reported in Educational and Health Services and Professional and Business Services. There were 758,100 unemployed people in Illinois in February.

The national unemployment rate in February was 9.7 percent. There were -36,000 fewer jobs in the country and the overall number of unemployed people was 14.9 million. Since the recession began in December 2007, the nation has lost 8.4 million jobs. Illinois has lost 403,600 jobs. Monthly labor force data is revised each February to meet U.S. Department of Labor requirements. Previous data, analysis and comments should be discarded because they might no longer be valid.

The unemployment rate is not the same measurement as those collecting unemployment benefits. The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment, regardless if they are eligible for unemployment insurance. Workers collecting benefits are counted separately. Therefore, a person who exhausts or is ineligible for unemployment insurance still would be reflected in the unemployment rate if they are seeking employment.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security administers federally funded employment services and unemployment insurance through its nearly 60 offices, including the Illinois workNet Centers. IDES also receives federal grants to provide and analyze labor market statistics and information.

The Illinois House unanimously approved a $50 million election-year job creation program, a measure that is expected to create thousands of Illinois jobs.

The measure would give small business owners a $2,500 tax credit for each full-time position created in the next year.

Both Gov. Pat Quinn and his Republican opponent, state Sen. Bill Brady support the plan, which is aimed at creating 20,000 jobs.

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Under a new proposed budget, hundreds of Illinois law enforcement jobs could be eliminated within the next year.

According to KMOX.com, hundreds of state troopers would lose their jobs under the proposed budget for Illinois’ new fiscal year, which begins in July.

Jonathon Monken, acting director of the state police, told an Illinois House appropriations committee Monday he cannot achieve a 14 percent budget cut through attrition alone.

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Peerless Industries, Inc., one of the largest U.S.-based manufacturers of audio/visual mounting solutions, announced today that it will move operations from two campuses in Melrose Park to a single large facility in Aurora beginning in May, a move that will create many new Illinois jobs.

According to PRNewswire.com, the relocation follows a 2009 decision by Peerless management to return all manufacturing jobs to the U.S. after four years during which 30% of the company’s products were produced in China through an exclusive strategic partnership with a local factory.

Peerless Industries is a 68-year old designer, manufacturer and distributor of A/V solutions including flat panel mounts, projector mounts, carts/stands, furniture, cables, screen cleaners and a full assortment of accessories. Peerless manufactures over 3,600 products that serve original equipment manufacturers, retailers and commercial installers in 25 vertical markets through direct salespeople and authorized distribution.

Those jobs started moving back to the U.S. late last year after Peerless finalized plans to relocate to Aurora in order to consolidate operations under one roof, upgrade to a more modern and energy-efficient facility, and provide room for physical expansion.

“We need more space, we want to merge all operations to reduce operating expenses, and we are committed to being environmentally responsible as well as returning all manufacturing to the U.S. to shorten lead times and regain complete control,” said Michael A. Campagna, President/COO of Peerless Industries. “Our new headquarters will allow us to achieve all of those objectives, keep costs low, and ensure that we continue to provide the best and most reliable mounting solutions available.”

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President Obama has said that he wants to ship Guantánamo Bay detainees to the Thomson Correctional Center, a move that would create hundreds of Illinois jobs (Click here).

According to CSMonitor.com, Thomson Correctional Center is a nine-year-old underutilized state prison in northwest Illinois and the federal prison system’s second “Supermax” facility.

At an eight-hour hearing in late December at in nearby Sterling, Ill., political leaders questioned state and federal officials and took public comments on whether the sale of the facility to the US Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Defense would be a good deal and would guarantee the 3,000 jobs and $1 billion in development announced in the planning.

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Ford Motor Co. said it will add 1,200 jobs in Illinois at its Chicago assembly plant later this year to build the new Explorer sport utility vehicle, a person briefed on the matter said (click here).

The company and Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn were scheduled to make the announcement on Tuesday at the factory, but Quinn told reporters in Chicago on Monday that 1,200 new jobs were coming to Illinois.

“Tomorrow, in one day, we’re going to get 1,200 new jobs for Illinois,” Quinn said at a breakfast event.

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