News

“A 2023 survey of roughly 350 K-12 Illinois public school teachers about the presence of educational technology in the classroom, revealed insights into how software tools and new learning hardware were adopted by school districts and how they were integrated into instruction and student assessment. Online and software applications educational tools have colonized classrooms at all grade levels. School districts have significantly increased their spending on technology. Key findings from teacher responses to the survey are presented below.”

“Project labor agreements (PLAs) are pre-hire agreements that establish terms and conditions of employment for all crafts on large and complex infrastructure projects. The mutual agreements are between construction owners—such as contractors, developers, governments, or public bodies—and coalitions of labor unions supplying skilled workers for the duration of specific projects. The main purpose of PLAs is to promote predictability, productivity, and efficiency on construction projects. PLAs can also enhance opportunities to bid on public works for previously underrepresented businesses while expanding employer access to new domestic labor supply pools.”

“More than three-quarters of nurses said they would consider staying in the nursing profession if there was some limitation on the number of patients they were responsible for and if [they] could hold the employer accountable to maintain those levels. “Addressing the staffing and workload is the answer to the problem of why so many nurses are leaving the profession.”
Feb 24, 2026
“More than three-quarters of nurses said they would consider staying in the nursing profession if there was some limitation on the number of patients they were responsible for and if [they] could hold the employer accountable to maintain those levels. “Addressing the staffing and workload is the answer to the problem of why so many nurses are leaving the profession.”
Feb 13, 2026
“More than three-quarters of nurses said they would consider staying in the nursing profession if there was some limitation on the number of patients they were responsible for and if [they] could hold the employer accountable to maintain those levels. “Addressing the staffing and workload is the answer to the problem of why so many nurses are leaving the profession.”
Jan 21, 2026
“More than three-quarters of nurses said they would consider staying in the nursing profession if there was some limitation on the number of patients they were responsible for and if [they] could hold the employer accountable to maintain those levels. “Addressing the staffing and workload is the answer to the problem of why so many nurses are leaving the profession.”
Jan 20, 2026
“More than three-quarters of nurses said they would consider staying in the nursing profession if there was some limitation on the number of patients they were responsible for and if [they] could hold the employer accountable to maintain those levels. “Addressing the staffing and workload is the answer to the problem of why so many nurses are leaving the profession.”
Jan 16, 2026
“By the end of President Trump’s term, the wave of project cancellations, funding recissions, mass federal firings, and cuts to public health, nutrition, infrastructure, education, and other programs enacted by the administration in 2025 will amount to nearly $8 billion annually in lost revenue and increased out-of-pocket expenses, shrink the economy by $10 billion per year, and cost the state 86,000 jobs—according to a new analysis by the nonpartisan Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) and the Project for Middle Class Renewal (PMCR) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.”
Dec 09, 2025
“By the end of President Trump’s term, the wave of project cancellations, funding recissions, mass federal firings, and cuts to public health, nutrition, infrastructure, education, and other programs enacted by the administration in 2025 will amount to nearly $8 billion annually in lost revenue and increased out-of-pocket expenses, shrink the economy by $10 billion per year, and cost the state 86,000 jobs—according to a new analysis by the nonpartisan Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) and the Project for Middle Class Renewal (PMCR) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.”
Dec 02, 2025
“Illinois has a shortage of about 142,000 housing units and must build 227,000 in the next five years to keep pace with demand, a number that would require recent annual production rates to double, according to a joint study published this summer by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.”
Nov 25, 2025
“Illinois has a shortage of about 142,000 housing units and must build 227,000 in the next five years to keep pace with demand, a number that would require recent annual production rates to double, according to a joint study published this summer by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.”
Nov 21, 2025
“The vast majority of women and LGBTQ+ workers say they experience some kind of harassment, regardless of the kind of employment they have,” said Emily Labarbera-Twarog, an associate professor at the University of Illinois who studies workplace harassment. “But these are jobs where women are in the very, very, very small minority. I mean, you’re talking about 4 percent of the population.… So it’s super small, and harassment is definitely something that is happening on a regular basis.”
Sep 17, 2025
Pre-hire labor pacts used on major construction projects at the Port of Seattle had no major impact on competition or construction costs, and were more likely to meet diverse apprenticeship goals, according to new research from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Illinois Economic Policy Institute.
May 22, 2024
The University of Illinois Press interviewed Professor Bob Bruno about his new book, What Work Is.
Mar 11, 2024
When the expanded federal Child Tax Credit was temporarily adopted during the pandemic, child poverty was reduced by 36% and $1 billion was injected into Illinois’ economy, creating 18,000 jobs. But Congress allowed it to expire. As a result, child poverty has more than doubled.
Mar 04, 2024
New autoworkers’ contract uplifts Belvidere, Illinois No place in history has benefited more from a new contract than Belvidere, Illinois. CBS 2’s Brad Edwards went 90 miles northwest of Chicago to a place that went from the biggest labor “loser” to the biggest winner.
Feb 12, 2024
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