Bloomington-Normal and the rest of McLean County have a worker shortage. So does much of the rest of the nation. Policymakers and educators are grappling with a multiyear challenge to increase the supply of workers who can keep the area financially strong and vital.

While McLean County nonprofits have struggled, they don’t seem to be seeing the critical decreases in funding and workforce volatility that is crippling nonprofits elsewhere.

Local theater companies aren't suffering as badly as the nationwide trends, but without more financial support, they can't afford to go pro.

A big part of job creation is developing more job creators. McLean County has seen a spike in new businesses. Now it's looking for more ways to help those startups grow.

Some of Bloomington-Normal's largest employers have kept the hybrid work model going post-pandemic, if they weren't already offering something similar before.

There is no single explanation for why Bloomington-Normal’s labor market is so crazy right now. But one employer hiring 7,500 workers in three years is the electric elephant in the room.

WGLT's weeklong series The Next Shift begins with a look at why three McLean County workers changed jobs — and what it did for their take-home pay in this inflationary economy.