CHICAGO, Ill. — Gov. J.B. Pritzker said supporting workers and families during this time is a top priority.
Pritzker said that the Illinois Department of Employment Security will start processing filing numbers for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for self-employed individuals on May 21.
Since May 11, over 50,000 self-employed workers have filed for unemployment.
“With regard to traditional unemployment filings as of today IDES has process over 1,067,000 unemployment claims in Illinois from March 1 until May 9,” Pritzker said. “About six times as many claims as in the equivalent time period of the 2008-2009 Great Recession.”
Get Hired Illinois is a new website and hub for skills training opportunities and a virtual job fair.
Pritzker said the financial stability is the key to get the state back on its feet.
“Illinois won’t be restored until our workers and families have the opportunities and resources they need to build and fill in their lives,” Pritzker said.
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 3,239 new cases of COVID-19 for the state, bringing the total to 87,937. Also reported were an additional 138 virus related deaths. Illinois’ total lives lost related to COVID-19 is 3,928.
In the last 24 hours, 22,678 specimens were tested at labs across the state for a total of 512,037. The statewide 7-day rolling positivity rate is 17%.