As families prepared for the holidays, more than 1,100 Illinois workers were instead handed devastating news. In November 2025 alone, over 800 jobs were cut across the state, leaving hundreds of households facing sudden uncertainty as the year winds to a close.
The layoffs, reported through Illinois workforce data and WARN notices, hit workers across manufacturing, healthcare, retail, and corporate offices, showing how widespread the economic strain has become. For many employees, the timing made the blow especially painful — coming just weeks before Thanksgiving and the year-end holidays.
Norvax LLC – nearly 500 jobs lost
One of the largest cuts came from Norvax LLC, which eliminated nearly 500 positions in a single move. Norvax LLC is a Chicago-based technology and software company that develops online tools and services for the health insurance industry — primarily helping insurance agents, brokers, and carriers sell and manage insurance products more efficiently.
The layoffs for Norvax will take effect January 2nd, 2026, which certainly isn’t the most pleasant way for former employees to ring in the new year…
CVS Health – 219 jobs lost
In November 2025, CVS Health and its primary care subsidiary Oak Street Health announced significant job cuts in Illinois, contributing substantially to the state’s total of 1,192 reported layoffs for the month.
According to official layoff data, Oak Street Health MSO, LLC filed a WARN notice indicating that 219 employees were laid off across its Illinois operations, primarily affecting roles in Chicago as part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at reducing costs and streamlining care delivery.
Printpack – 111 jobs lost
In a significant blow to the Elgin manufacturing community, Printpack Inc. announced it will close its Elgin, Illinois packaging plant, resulting in the layoff of 111 workers. The Atlanta-based flexible packaging manufacturer filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice indicating the facility will wind down operations and begin layoffs on January 5, 2026, with the process continuing over the next several months.
The company said the closure is driven by “ongoing operational challenges” and shifts in core market demand that made continued production at the Elgin site unsustainable.
Other layoffs in Illinois
Labor experts warn the November numbers may be a sign of what’s ahead. Several companies that filed late-2025 WARN notices have scheduled further layoffs into early 2026, raising concerns that job losses could accelerate in the months ahead.
State agencies say displaced workers may qualify for unemployment benefits, job retraining, and workforce assistance programs, but those resources can take time to access — time many families say they don’t have.
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