THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IS ALERTING LOCAL OFFICIALS ABOUT A NEW HIRING REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS.

A LAW REQUIRING AT LEAST 90 PERCENT OF WORKERS HIRED FOR A LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS JOB TO BE FROM ILLINOIS KICKS IN AFTER TWO MONTHS OF A STATE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HIGHER THAN FIVE PERCENT SAYS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR JASON KELLER.

AFTER TWO MONTHS OF UNEMPLOYMENT RATES ABOVE FIVE PERCENT..A STATE LAW KICKS IN MANDATING THAT 90 PERCENT OF WORKERS USED FOR LABOR ON A PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT BE FROM ILLNOIS. THE IDEA IS TO PUT MORE ILLINOISANS TO WORK SAYS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR JASON KELLER.

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED THE STATE JOBLESS RATE TO SOAR TO MORE THAN 17 PERCENT IN APRIL AND OVER 15 PERCENT IN MAY. KELLER SAYS THE REQUIREMENT WILL BE ENFORCED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.