Young Workers Will Pay the Price for Chicago Mayor’s Employee Tax
28th October 2025
This economy is one of the toughest job markets for entry-level positions, and now, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is advancing new tax hikes in his budget that will make it even more difficult for Gen Z workers to build lives and careers in the city.
As he unveiled his third budget last week, Mayor Johnson took to a familiar tactic to fill a $1.15 billion budget shortfall: new taxes, higher fees.
The target of his worst tax hikes this time is the business community—and if history is any indicator, results are poised to be disastrous. Johnson announced he’d revive the city’s long-defunct business “head tax,” charging businesses with over 100 employees—such as McDonald’s, United, and other large firms—a $21 per employee per month fee.
Second-tier cities, including Raleigh, Baltimore, and our neighbor Milwaukee, have positioned themselves as technology hubs and are courting businesses and attracting young workers with affordable cost-of-living and well-paying positions.
Time to leave.