Companies reported plans for more than 1,000 layoffs in the state, according to the most recent monthly roundup from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Businesses that reported layoffs included national brands and other employers serving local communities. Following is a summary of more than a dozen layoff reports, which were submitted to the state as mandated by the Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.
Company closing Illinois facility, jobs moving to Indiana
Hyster-Yale Materials, Inc. reported March 31 that it plans to close a facility in Danville. The company intends to lay off 20 employees on June 1.
Hyster-Yale, a wholesaler of industrial machinery and equipment, is planning to transition all Danville operations to a new, larger facility in Avon, Indiana, according to a company spokesperson.
“The new facility will become Hyster-Yale’s Customer and Parts Solutions Center, a hub designed to elevate customer engagement and service while modernizing the company’s North American aftersales and parts distribution operations,” the spokesperson said.
College closing in Illinois
Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights announced last November that it will close at the end of the 2025-26 academic year due to financial pressure. The school plans to lay off 107 employees between May 4 and May 17, according to a WARN report submitted March 20.
Two charter schools close in Chicago
The Chicago school board voted last month to close two schools in an embattled charter network.
ASPIRA Inc. of Illinois submitted a WARN report March 6 and laid off 57 employees April 3. ASPIRA, which had been facing financial issues according to Chalkbeat Chicago, did not respond to telephone and email inquiries from the Journal Star.
Manufacturing company moving operations to two new sites
Millwood Inc. intends to close its Melrose Park facility and transition to new sites in Joliet and Fairfield, Ohio.
Millwood, a wood container and pallet manufacturer, plans to lay off 112 Melrose Park employees May 1, according to a WARN report submitted March 3. However, a company spokesperson said the transition to the new locations will create more than 100 new jobs.
“We will also be actively working with each team member affected by the transition to provide support,” the spokesperson said. “This includes opportunities to transfer to the new Illinois location, where possible, as well as assistance in identifying alternative employment opportunities.”
Upscale retailer closing store in Illinois
In May, Saks Fifth Avenue intends to close a store on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.
The move will result in layoffs for 101 employees between May 6 and May 13, according to a WARN report submitted on March 6. Saks, which is closing multiple locations across the nation this year, did not respond to telephone and email inquiries.
Firm to lay off 105 Chicago workers
Windy City Supply Chain LLC announced it is closing a facility in Chicago and laying off 105 workers May 24, according to a WARN report submitted March 19.
The company, specializing in delivery services, did not respond to phone and email inquiries.
Funding changes affect human rights organization in Illinois
Heartland Human Care Services announced that it is closing several programs, citing federal funding cuts from the Office of Refugee Resettlement that ended financial support for its Child Welfare Residential Services for immigrant children.
The organization submitted a WARN report April 1 announcing that it had laid off 120 employees on March 31 at 3500 S. Giles in Chicago, according to the state.
In February, the nonprofit announced that it planned to lay off 140 workers in conjunction with closing three facilities in Chicago. A supplemental WARN report received by the state April 1, said the organization had started layoffs for 72 additional employees on March 31 at two Chicago locations.
“This situation continues to evolve,” a Heartland spokesperson said. “We appreciate the public’s understanding as we prioritize the well-being of participants and staff and continue delivering mission-driven services through our non-impacted programs.”
Major airline ending service at Chicago airport
Southwest Airlines announced plans in March to discontinue service to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. The airline reported to the state that 107 workers will be affected when services at O’Hare end June 4, according to a March 31 WARN report.
A company spokesperson said Southwest will continue to serve the Chicago area from its base at Midway International Airport.
“Southwest has a proud 41-year history at (Midway), and we remain committed to investing in the City of Chicago,” the spokesperson added. “Operating at Chicago O’Hare continues to be challenging, and we are confident we can serve Chicagoland from our long-standing base at Midway.”
Walmart to shutter Illinois facility in May
Citing changing customer needs, retail giant Walmart has announced plans to close an Illinois facility. Walmart notified the state on March 27 of plans for the Matteson facility and its impact on 111 employees on May 29.
A Walmart spokesperson said the company is relocating operations from Matteson to other locations within its network. Affected employees will have the opportunity to transfer to nearby facilities or other locations nationwide.
“We’re grateful for everything our associates do every day,” the spokesperson said. “And we’re committed to working one-on-one with each person to find the best path forward so they can remain part of the Walmart family.”
Transportation company laying off over 90 employees
Citing lost contracts, Illinois Central School Bus submitted a WARN report March 2 to announce it will shut down its Waterloo location and lay off 37 employees. The layoffs are slated to begin May 25 and end June 30.
The school bus company also reported its intent to close a site in Wilmington and lay off 55 workers there between May 29 and June 30, according to a WARN report submitted March 20.
The Journal Star reached out to Illinois Central School Bus by telephone and email but did not receive a response.
T-Mobile revises Illinois layoff figure
In January, T-Mobile USA reported its intent to lay off 109 workers in Schaumburg between April 2 and June 2.
The company has revised that number to 172 layoffs, according to a supplemental WARN report submitted March 30.
Wells Fargo announces more layoffs in Illinois
In February, Wells Fargo reported restructuring plans that included the closure of its Rosemont facility.
The company initially said it intended to lay off lay 32 employees in March and nine more in April, according to a WARN report.
Wells Fargo plans to lay off eight additional workers May 2 in Rosemont and one more on May 30, according to two supplemental WARN reports submitted in March.
A Wells Fargo spokesperson said affected employees would receive severance packages and could continue to participate in the company health plan.
Company to lay off two additional Illinois employees
New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company Rising Pharma Holdings, Inc. had earlier laid off a total of 97 workers from two facilities in Decatur. The company plans to will lay off two additional workers effective May 15, according to a supplemental WARN report submitted on March 16.
Insurance company to lay off additional Chicago worker
Everest Insurance plans to lay off one additional Chicago worker on June 30, according to a supplemental WARN report submitted on March 10.
In December, citing a need to reorganize, the company had announced layoffs for 37 Chicago employees planned for March 31.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Business closures force layoffs in Illinois, according to state report
Reporting by Mike Kramer, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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