McHENRY – Mike Ruffner, veteran employment representative for the Illinois Department of Employment Security, painted a grim picture of the job market.

"After three years, we're seeing that it's not really moving, as far as getting people re-employed," he said. "The vets I work with, it seems pretty flat. I lose some, gain some. Nothing's really happening from what I can see. No matter what the state or federal government says, I know what I'm working with in this county.

"You may not go back to your original job, because it's not coming back."