Four Illinois companies plan to lay off several hundred workers beginning early next month, the businesses informed the state this week.
The companies said they plan to lay off almost 350 combined employees, according to Crain's Chicago Business.
Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare, one of the four firms that announced plans to downsize, intends to cut 100 workers, according to Crain's.
Bekins Van Lines LLC in Hillside will eliminate 102 positions, Goodrich Corp. in Barrington is letting go of 58 jobs, and in downstate East Alton, Olin Corp. will cut 89 employees.
The news comes the same day jobless rates across the country were reportedly at a three-year low.
U.S. employers added 200,000 jobs in December, edging the unemployment rate down a tenth of a percent to a three-year low of 8.5 percent.
