In November 2025, Illinois saw a wave of job cuts right as people prepared for the holidays. Employers sent out notices under the federal WARN Act for 1,192 layoffs. These were not just random choices by single companies. Instead, they pointed to bigger problems in the state’s economy and job market.
The timing made things tougher for workers and families. What looked like separate business moves turned into a clear sign of wider strain. Businesses across different areas cut jobs at the same time, showing shared challenges like higher costs and less profit.
Coordinated Job Cuts in Key Sectors
The layoffs spread across several big industries, not just one company in trouble. Insurance, healthcare, manufacturing, and office services all saw reductions. Chicago took the biggest hit, but jobs also vanished in nearby collar counties, northern areas outside Cook County, and downstate towns.
This happened together across sectors, which means more than temporary fixes. Companies faced rising expenses, changes in how healthcare gets paid, and profit squeezes. Experts say these matching cuts show deep economic pressure hitting employers statewide.
Illinois businesses deal with a tough tax setup too. The state ranks 38th in the 2025 State Business Tax Climate Index because of high property and corporate income taxes. Groups say this makes it hard for companies to grow, invest, or add jobs here compared to other places.
On top of that, 2025 brought national issues like ongoing inflation, fewer workers available, and higher costs for healthcare and benefits. For insurance and healthcare firms already under margin pressure, these factors pushed them to cut staff, use more machines, or move work to cheaper spots. Many had held on earlier in the year but hit their limit by November.
Details on Where Jobs Were Lost
WARN notices listed 1,192 jobs set to go in November 2025. Two main companies led the cuts: Norvax LLC, linked to GoHealth in insurance tech, and CVS Health via its Oak Street Health clinics.
Norvax planned to drop 487 jobs in Chicago. This came from company changes and struggles to make money in insurance sales and tech enrollment. They shared few details, but it was one of the biggest single cuts that month.
CVS Health and Oak Street Health cut 219 jobs over shifts in their care model. About 80 were outside Chicago, with the rest at the main office. Together, these two caused nearly 59% of all November layoffs in Illinois.
Chicago saw 714 cuts, or 60% of the total. Collar counties had 209, northern Illinois outside Cook County had 208, and southern Illinois had 55. The focus in Chicago hit white-collar jobs in insurance, admin, and healthcare offices.
Insurance lost the most jobs, matching Norvax’s cuts. Office admin dropped 301 positions, while manufacturing and healthcare also took hits. These areas hold many skilled, well-paid workers in the state.
Healthcare Changes and Business Moves
CVS Health’s steps show a bigger shift in primary care focused on value. In October 2025, they said they would close 16 Oak Street Health centers across the U.S. by February 2026. Reasons included higher medical costs and payment changes. One closure is in Chicago.
Leaders called it a smart tweak, not a pullback. After closures, 230 centers will run in 27 states. They stressed that this care type is key to their Medicare plans. The goal is better finances and smoother operations starting in 2026.
This mirrors how big healthcare firms handle rising costs and new payment rules. They keep core businesses but close sites, combine services, or cut office staff to match spending with income.
Effects on Families and Next Steps
These 1,192 layoffs mean real hardship for workers, especially near holidays. With Illinois’ median wage around $60,000 a year, the total lost pay could hit $71.5 million annually. Officials don’t list exact wages in WARN reports, but the drop affects spending, taxes, and local shops.
Stores and services expect lower sales as families skip extras. Groups like community organizations, job agencies, and schools jumped in with job fairs, training, and advice. State and nonprofit programs help workers learn new skills, get certifications, and find openings in logistics, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare support.
Experts warn these cuts could last if no new jobs fill the gap. Losing skilled roles in insurance, admin, manufacturing, and healthcare shrinks talent pools and might scare off outside firms.
Policymakers and leaders push for fixes like tax breaks to keep jobs, better training, and ties between companies and community colleges. Focus grows on education to match job needs and handle tech changes.
Illinois’ recovery hinges on smart mixes of policy, training, and business plans. If firms add tech for efficiency while helping workers shift roles, the state can build stronger jobs. The November 2025 layoffs expose weak spots but also chances for teamwork to steady the workforce ahead.
Sources
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity – Notices of Layoffs and Closures (WARN)Illinois WorkNet – Archived WARN ReportsIllinois Policy Institute – Norvax, CVS lead layoffs as Illinois loses 1,192 jobsForbes – CVS To Close 16 Oak Street Health Centers Amid Industry Cost IssuesHealthcare Brew – CVS Health to close 16 Oak Street Health primary care locationsTax Foundation – 2025 State Business Tax Climate Index