Lake County Gazette

Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) said the state’s struggling economy might be headed for even more challenging times.

“These latest struggles aren’t all just about COVID-19,” Wilcox told the Lake County Gazette. “We were already really struggling with small businesses moving across the border where owners were hoping to be able to be more competitive before the virus hit. Now on top of that, many of the moves Gov. Pritzker has made in the wake of the virus, like the shutdowns and the restrictions, have only exacerbated the situation.”

Illinois has lost a record-setting 423,300 jobs in 2020, or roughly 7% of its total workforce.  The declines are happening in every metropolitan area, according to an article by Illinois Policy Institute. In Chicago, where unemployment numbers rose the fastest, figures more than tripled over a year-long period ending in December 2020 to 8.7%.

Given all the decline, Wilcox said it’s no wonder a growing number of people across the state have held enough and are now choosing to walk away.

“For the most part, people are rational beings that will not stay in one place when they think another would be more beneficial to them and their family,” he said. “That explains all the movement from among residents and businesses. For the good of this state and all its residents, we really need to reconsider some of the things the governor has done and some of the policies he’s put in place.”

Now approaching his third year of serving as the face of the 32nd District, Wilcox serves on the Senate’s Appropriations, Energy and Public Utilities, Human Services, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Labor, Transportation on Committee of the Whole committees.