Agencies
Services
About IDES
Mission, Vision, Value
Our Mission
IDES manages, administers, and safeguards the state’s unemployment insurance program and Trust Fund, provides economic stability to workers seeking reemployment through the delivery of unemployment insurance benefits and employment services, and encourages economic growth and stability across the state through analyzing and disseminating actionable labor market information to policymakers.
Our Vision
IDES assists jobseekers with easy and equitable access to the state’s unemployment insurance program and employment services, connects workers with employers seeking to expand their labor force, and proactively shares actionable economic data with policymakers to assist in making timely, informed, and fact-based decisions that impact the labor market and economy of the state.
What We Do
- Administers the State’s unemployment insurance program.
- Supports Illinois economic growth by connecting jobseekers to available education, training, and jobs through Illinois JobLink.
- Analyzes and disseminates labor market information, including employment and unemployment statistics, industry and occupation projections, and forecasts of national, state, and local economic trends.
- Detects, analyzes, investigates, and mitigates unemployment fraud to guarantee the fairness of unemployment compensation programs as well as to protect eligible claimants and victims of identity theft.
IDES Divisions and Programming
IDES delivers impactful programs and services through the following general divisions:
Service Delivery
Administrative Appeals
Revenue Division
Business Services
Economic Information and Analysis
Executive Staff
- Ray Marchiori – Director
- Melissa Coultas – Chief of Staff
- Brett Cox – Chief Financial Officer
- Jared Walkowitz – Chief Operating Officer
- Tom Revane – Chief Information Officer
- Mireya Hurtado – Deputy Director, Service Delivery
- Carrie Thomas – Deputy Director, Business Services
- Marty Johnson – Director, Labor Market Information
- Kevin Lovellette – Chief Legal Counsel
- James Preckwinkle – Legislative Liaison
- Rebecca Cisco – Public Information Officer
- Anna D’Ascenzo – Director of Equal Opportunity Officer and Civil Rights
- Jeanette Okulinski – Human Resources Director
- Laron Cole – Manager, Labor Relations
- Noe Reyes – Chief Internal Auditor
- Jason Horwitz – Strategic Advisor for Policy and Programs
- LaReyna Griffin – Senior Policy Advisor
Department Stats for FY26
At any given point, the Department of Employment Security has approximately 1,000 to 1,200 employees.
Its annual operating budget is generally between $250,000,000 and $300,000,000.
Department Boards and Commissions
Employment Security Board of Review
The Board of Review considers appeals of department decisions on claims for benefits under Unemployment Insurance Act and various federal programs related to unemployment insurance administered by the department, except claims involving labor disputes.
Additional information about the Board, including its composition can be found on the Governor’s Office of Executive Appointments webpage.
Employment Security Advisory Board
The Employment Security Advisory Board makes recommendations relating to policies and problems in administration of state’s Unemployment Insurance Act.
Additional information about the Board, including its composition and statutory authority, can be found on the Governor’s Office of Executive Appointments webpage.