Murphysboro IDES office to close | News

MURPHYSBORO, IL (KFVS) - Seven Illinois Department of Employment of Security officers across the state are closing.

That includes an office in Murphysboro.

According to a release from the department, 192 staff members will laid off as a result of the offices closing.

A department spokesperson says the closures are due to a reduction in federal funding.

The closures impact people who prefer face to face meetings about their unemployment.

IDES already consolidated 10 offices, vacated 10 outpost locations shared with partners, and stopped scheduling 216 intermittent employees. Of the 10 offices, five were in Chicago and the others were in Evanston, Freeport, Litchfield, Mt. Vernon and Pekin.

IDES’ funding is, in part, tied to unemployment insurance claim volumes. Falling claim volumes as a result of an improving economy are expected to reduce funding by $11 million. Although Congress reauthorized the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program, a $7 million reduction still is anticipated. Congressional decisions associated with the fiscal cliff could bring additional funding reductions.

These reductions come at a time when claim volumes remain 38 percent higher than prior to the recession, according to IDES.

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