As of 2016, undocumented immigrants comprised more than 5 percent of the workforce in Illinois. While current numbers are not available, the percentage of undocumented workers is almost certainly higher today. Yet across the state of Illinois, many industries that depend heavily on undocumented workers are experiencing a labor shortage crisis. One such industry is landscaping. While landscaping is an industry growing by leaps and bounds in the state, there are not enough entry-level workers to meet the current needs.
Expanding temporary work permits would significantly increase the number of workers who could fill landscaping spots, as well as other industry gaps that rely heavily on undocumented workers. State lawmakers in Illinois are limited in what they can do since work permits are a federal issue. During the last week of the IL legislative session in June 2024, both chambers passed a resolution asking the President to issue work permits to undocumented immigrants, particularly those who have lived and worked in the U.S. for many years.