Jobs vs. food stamps: Illinois last in the Midwest

Since the Great Recession ended, Illinois’ food-stamp enrollment has outpaced job creation by a ratio of nearly 2-to-1.

The jobs versus food stamps comparison is a strong indicator of economic hardship. And compared to the rest of the Midwest, Illinoisans are truly feeling the pain.

Since the Great Recession ended, Illinois is the only state in the Midwest to have more people end up on food stamps than in a job. Every other state in the Midwest has had more job creation than food-stamp enrollment. In fact, North Dakota, Missouri and Michigan have actually seen their food-stamp enrollment decline since January 2010, while also adding a healthy number of new payroll jobs.

Without healthy job creation, Illinois families are forced into dependency. Meanwhile, other states in the Midwest are making progress on job creation and moving away from dependency. In neighboring Indiana, for example, there have been nearly three new jobs for each new food-stamp enrollee.

Nationally, Illinois is one of only 16 states in which food-stamp enrollment has outpaced job creation since the recession ended, and ranks 45th of the states and D.C.

The myth of an Illinois comeback is just that – a myth.

For Illinois to see a real comeback, state lawmakers must embrace entrepreneurship, slash wait times, cut regulatory red tape and enact overall tax reform.

- See more at: http://www.illinoispolicy.org/jobs-vs-foods-stamps-illinois-last-in-the-midwest/#sthash.GjZe5tv9.dpuf