This short empirical study utilizes U.S. annual data from 1976 to 2006 to examine the causal relationship between energy consumption and employment in Illinois within a multi-variate framework. The Toda-Yamamoto long-run causality tests reveal unidirectional causal-ity from energy consumption to employment supportive of the growth hypothesis. However, the importance of energy consumption in economic activity should not overshadow the envi-ronmental consequences of heavy reliance on fossil fuel consumption as well as the relevance of alternative renewable energy sources and improved energy efficiency for future economic growth.