The past two decades have been characterized by financial uncertainty. The 2008 Financial Crisis and the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic have had lasting impacts on the financial health of individuals in Illinois and across the country. At the same time, secular changes to employment relationships, such as declining real wages, reductions in employment benefits, and deteriorating employment stability, have further exacerbated financial distress and economic inequality. This Project for Middle Class Renewal report examines financial well-being in Illinois from 2009 to 2024, using data from the National Financial Capability Study (NFCS).
