An NIU poll shows Illinois workers fear losing their jobs because of increased outsourcing.

More than 10 percent of respondents said they, or a member of their family, lost a job to overseas competition in the last few years, according to a 2005 Illinois policy survey conducted by the NIU Center for Governmental Studies.

The problem is not just with the people who lost jobs, but those who think they may lose jobs in the future, said Mike Peddle, NIU public administration professor and a senior researcher who helped conduct the survey.

Nearly one-third of all respondents said it was very likely or somewhat likely they, or a member of their household, would lose a job to foreign outsourcing in the next five years, Peddle said.

The loss of Illinois businesses and jobs has some legislators worried.

Bob Pritchard (R-Hinckley) said Illinois has a problem with jobs and businesses leaving Illinois.

The governor and leaders of Congress need to take the study to heart and make changes that will keep jobs in Illinois, he said.

Illinois only recently began to keep layoff data because of job movement overseas, said Geraldine Conrad, communication manager for the Illinois Department of Central Management Services.

The limited mass layoff data on jobs lost because of job movement includes very few layoffs caused by work moved to foreign countries, Conrad said.

“Nonetheless, the perception is that this is big problem probably because of media like Lou Dobbs,” she said.

Others said outsourcing is a problem in DeKalb.

Outsourcing has increased and people are getting laid off, Furst Staffing Representative Isela Lopez said.

Furst Staffing, 2580 Charles St. in Rockford, has noticed an increase in the number of people looking for work because they were laid off, she said.

“We had to hire another part-time worker to help deal with all the new applicants,” she said.

Although there are not exact numbers on the jobs lost because of outsourcing in the area, there is some hope because a Target distribution center is coming to DeKalb and Chrysler is expanding in Belvedere, Conrad said.