Illinois data center explosion promises 121K jobs — but only 2,800 are permanent while electric bills could jump…
- Illinois data centers could create 121,000 jobs, yet only 2,800 of those jobs would last.
- Each lasting Illinois data center job equals roughly $20.2 million of investment.
- Average Illinois households could pay about $150 more yearly for electricity.
Illinois is facing a projected $57 billion wave of data center construction that could generate 121,000 jobs through 2035.
Yet only 2,800 positions would remain after construction, while residential customers could face electricity increases approaching $150 annually.
These findings have intensified questions about whether economic gains can justify mounting infrastructure demands, tax concessions, and higher power costs.
Jobs and tax revenue dominate the economic case for expansion
The Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) estimates construction and related activity would produce most of the projected employment during the coming decade.
In 2020 and 2021, 13 data center projects generated 8,000 construction jobs, with some workers earning more than $100,000 annually.
That figure illustrates...
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