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Job seekers and employers can connect through a new website Illinois introduced this week as the state deals with record unemployment applications because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The financial stability and success of our residents is key to getting Illinois’ economy back on its feet,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said at his daily news briefing Thursday. “Illinois won’t be restored until our workers and families have the opportunities and resources they need to build and fill their lives.”

Get Hired IL provides an interactive search option for both workers and employers and can be found at www2.illinois.gov/GetHired/Pages/default.aspx.

The state processed more than 1 million claims for regular unemployment from March 1 through May 9, nearly 11.5 times the number of claims processed in the same time period last year.

More than 50,000 individuals applied for unemployment benefits through a program that provides payments to gig workers since it opened Monday.

Independent contractors and sole-proprietors are not typically eligible for unemployment benefits, but the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program provides up to 39 weeks of payments for those who aren’t working because of COVID-19.

(c)2020 the Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Ill.)

Visit the Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Ill.) at www.bnd.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

People leave after checking job application information May 14, 2020, at the Illinois Department of Employment Security WorkNet center in Arlington Heights. The state of Illinois has launched a new website to help those put out of work by the coronavirus pandemic.
People leave after checking job application information May 14, 2020, at the Illinois Department of Employment Security WorkNet center in Arlington Heights. The state of Illinois has launched a new website to help those put out of work by the coronavirus pandemic.