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St. Louis-based Express Scripts is looking to add 1,500 jobs over the next five years.

The company says the hiring will coincide with work on a $56 million expansion to the North County campus. An Express Scripts told the Post-Dispatch that the company now handles prescription services for 100 million Americans and the growth is necessary to handle the increased business.

The hiring is not a done deal, it is contingent upon state and local tax incentives.

   The BJC Hospital group is laying off 160 employees from it's 13 hospitals.  

   BJC officals say the lay-offs necessary because of a decline in in-patient care.  The problem, they say, is that people are delaying treatments, some for lack of insurance, others because of high co-pays.

   Layoff notifications started going out Wednesday.  

   Most of those affected work in administrative and management positions.  BJC says those laid off will receive severance pay based on years of service.

CHICAGO (AP) - State Treasurer Dan Rutherford says Texas Gov. Rick Perry has a point in picking out Illinois' financial problems, but Illinois businesses should stay put.

Perry is in Chicago to try and lure Illinois companies to Texas. He wants competition between the states and says Texas is a better place for companies. The Republican former presidential candidate is meeting with companies and speaking at a bioscience conference. He's made a similar trip to California.

But Illinois Republicans aren't so thrilled by the trip.

Rutherford is a Republican and considering a 2014 run for governor.  He says Perry's attempt to poach businesses should "sound an alarm to state leaders."

He says Illinois has the factors it needs for a good business climate, but it should address its nearly $100 billion pension problem.

Job seekers have a chance to speak to over 50 employers at a job fair later this month.

 

Southwestern Illinois College is holding their spring job fair from nine to noon on Wednesday, April 24. Job seekers should arrive in business attire with copies of their resume. Career fields from health care to education will be represented and include companies like Schnucks, Edward Jones, and the St. Louis Police Department.

 

You can find the complete list of participating companies here.

 

 MELROSE PARK, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Pat Quinn says the focus of his upcoming trip to Mexico is jobs and increasing trade and Illinois tourism.

 

The Chicago Democrat departs tomorrow for the three-day trip. He'll be the first Illinois governor to visit Mexico in 13 years.

 

His meetings will focus on water treatment and technology in Mexico for Illinois companies.

 

He'll also meet with Mexico's secretary of agriculture, mayors and state governors.

 

Quinn told reporters Tuesday that Illinois and Mexico have many ties and it's important to strengthen them.

 

The delegation will include representatives from Motorola Solutions, GSG Consultants and Elan Technologies.

 

Quinn says he's paying his own way for the trip through his campaign fund.

 

 

Missouri's unemployment rate continues to drop, but slowly.

January's rate dropped one-tenth of a point to 6.6 percent--which is the lower level in over four years.

A spokesperson for the Department of Economic Development says that Missouri's rate has been below the national average for 41 months. The national rate sits at 7.9 percent now.

GRANITE CITY, Ill. (AP) - Kraft Foods is weighing whether to spend $40 million to expand a southwestern Illinois plant if the city and state provide about $400,000 to widen a road in front of the site.

The Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis reports that the move would add 30 jobs to the 660,000 square foot plant and warehouse. The facilities now have more than 400 workers. The plant produces Capri Sun and Kool-Aid beverages.

As part of the project, the Illinois Department of Transportation would provide $300,000 for the road widening. Kraft says it's needed to allow trucks to turn into the plant.

Granite City Economic Development Director Jonathan Ferry says the matter may go before the city council sometime between April and June.

The Granite City facility became part of Kraft in 1991.

GRANITE CITY, Ill. (AP) - Kraft Foods is weighing whether to spend $40 million to expand a plant if Granite City and state provide about $400,000 to widen a road in front of the site.

The Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis reports the plant produces Capri Sun and Kool-Aid beverages.

As part of the project, the Illinois Department of Transportation would provide $300,000 for the road widening that Kraft calls necessary to allow trucks to turn into the plant.

Granite City Economic Development Director Jonathan Ferry says the matter may go before the city council sometime between April and June.

The Granite City facility became part of Kraft in 1991.

   

Job seekers can apply for one of nearly a thousand seasonal positions at St. Louis area Home Depot stores.

Fox 2 reports that the company has around 975 positions available. These jobs are not all temporary, as Home Depot transitions about half of their season hires into regular positions. The company is also working to help military veterans find a job at Home Depot. They have launched an Online Military Skills Translator to help match unique military skills with positions within the company.

All the information can be found at careers.homedepot.com