SPRINGFIELD, IL- A new wave of government hiring in Illinois is drawing scrutiny from Senator Chris Balkema (R- Channahon), who says the rapid growth in taxpayer-funded jobs raises serious questions about the state’s fiscal priorities.
Since 2023, Illinois has added roughly 100,000 jobs, but more than half were created in the public sector. A report from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) reveals that 44,600 of those jobs were added by local, state, or federal governments.
“45,000 new government jobs in two years—yet no one can point to a crisis in 2023 that called for this kind of hiring spree,” Balkema said. “The services didn’t suddenly collapse. So what are Illinois taxpayers getting in return for this massive expansion?”
The cost of these new positions is no small matter. Estimates place the annual price tag at more than $4 billion. Balkema warns that spending at this level is unsustainable, making it harder to maintain a balanced budget.
Meanwhile, private sector growth has lagged behind. According to the same report, construction added 10,400 jobs, manufacturing barely ticked up by 1,100, and financial and professional services lost 40,000 jobs over the same two-year period.
“This lopsided growth tells a troubling story,” Balkema said. “A strong economy depends on a thriving private sector, not a government hiring boom that taxpayers are left to fund.”
Balkema believes course correction is overdue. He suggests reassessing the necessity of the newly added positions and shifting dollars back toward services that directly benefit Illinoisans.
“We need to focus on tax reduction and private sector job growth,” said Balkema. “Illinoisans deserve better than runaway bureaucracy. They deserve accountability.”