Partial Federal Shutdown Delays Illinois Economic Reports

CHICAGO, IL – The partial federal government shutdown will delay the statewide employment report release scheduled for Noon on October 18, the Illinois Department of Employment Security said today.

Collecting and analyzing job creation numbers and unemployment rates are a dual function of IDES, which is federally funded, and the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Federal and state labor market analysts were among the first to be furloughed after Congress failed to pass a new federal budget or a continuing resolution by October 1, the first day in the federal fiscal year.

“Although we are pleased that Congress reached an agreement to reopen the federal government, this shutdown is not without consequences,” IDES Director Jay Rowell said. “One of those is the delay in our economic reports, but a more significant consequence is the estimated $24 billion cost to our economy. For our economy to see robust growth, Congress must stop these self-inflicted economic wounds and reach long-term agreements on fiscal and budgetary policy.”

The October 24 release date of local economic reports also will be delayed. No release date has been determined for either data set. Now that an agreement was reached and signed by President Obama, IDES will work with federal officials to determine when economic reports can be expected.

Overlooked in the federal shutdown debate are the few agencies in each state that use federal funds to pay for all or part of their operational budget. IDES is nearly 100 percent federally funded. The partial shutdown did not affect unemployment benefit payments. However, it jeopardized operational dollars used to deliver those and other IDES services. While some in Congress said furloughed federal workers will receive their lost pay, the same has not been guaranteed for state workers who are paid with federal funds.