More than 14K Illinois jobs lost in March due to virus
Note: This story has been updated to remove mention of layoffs by Fabrik Molded Plastics at its McHenry plant, as they have been removed from the state report. And it has been updated to say California Pizza Kitchen is furloughing employees, not permanently laying them off.
The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the Illinois economy was reflected in the state's monthly layoff report for March, which showed more than 14,000 people losing jobs across the state last month.
The report, released Friday, shows 195 filings of layoffs or closings affecting a total of 14,702 people. Of those, 8,970 are classified as permanent and 5,592 are temporary. A total of 140 jobs were classified "temporary and permanent," which means a combination of both within that company's total number.
By law, companies with more than 75 full-time workers must notify the state's Department of Employment Services ahead of time if they plan to lay off more than 25 full-time employees, or if they are closing a location that employs more than 50 people.
It is the largest monthly increase since the state began recording the job losses, according to John Ray of the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity.
Almost all of the companies cited the COVID-19 outbreak as a reason for the action. A good majority of the notices are in the hospitality industry, with many restaurants and hotels letting people go. Punch Bowl Social indicated it is closing its Schaumburg location, affecting up to 85 employees, according to the report.
California Pizza Kitchen, for example, is furloughing at least 85 employees from Chicago area locations, including Oak Brook, Schaumburg, Deer Park, Geneva, Skokie and Northbrook, according to the report.
HTRS Services, which owns several Hooters restaurants in the Chicago area, is permanently letting at least 85 people go from its 12 locations, including Schaumburg, Gurnee, Downers Grove and Aurora.
But the report also shows other businesses being affected by the virus outbreak. CF Management, which runs several XSport Fitness centers in the Chicago area, will permanently lay off at least 100 people from most of its locations, including Arlington Heights, Naperville, Schaumburg, Lombard, South Barrington, Addison and St. Charles.
Mercury Products in Schaumburg, an auto industry stamping company, will lay off 107 employees, the report shows.
Nonprofits are not immune to the impact of the virus. YMCAs in Plainfield and Joliet and other areas in the state have filed that they are temporarily laying off up to 15 people.
High-profile businesses include Chicago's Trump International Hotel & Tower, which is temporarily laying off 294 workers, the InterContinental Hotel in Chicago, with 350 temporary layoffs, and Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen in Westmont, which is letting 85 people go.
Nationally, The Labor Department announced Friday that 701,000 jobs were shed in March, driving the jobless rate up to 4.4 percent.