The Illinois Observer Illinois Poltics at a Glare
(Chicago) – May 17, 2012. The April Illinois unemployment rate fell 8.7% but Illinois added only a meager 100 jobs in April, according to preliminary data released today by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
The last time the rate was below 8.7% was February 2009 when it was 8.5%.
Illinois' April unemployment rate fell to 8.7%
“April marks eight consecutive months of falling unemployment rates. In each of the past three months, Illinois has added, on average, 6,300 new jobs.” Director Jay Rowell said.
In March, Illinois added 9,800 jobs.
Illinois has added 140,700 private sector jobs since January 2010 when job growth returned to Illinois after nearly two years of monthly losses. Since January 2010, leading growth sectors are Professional and Business Services (77,100); Manufacturing (36,700); and Educational and Health Services (27,200).
Government has lost the most jobs since January 2010, down 23,500.
Historically, the national unemployment rate is lower than the state rate. Only six times since January 2000 has the Illinois rate been lower than the nation’s. That period includes times of economic expansion and contraction.
In April 2012, the number of unemployed individuals fell for the eighth consecutive month, decreasing 9,600 (-1.7 %) to 571,500. Total unemployed has declined -181,300 (-24.1%) since January 2010 when the state unemployment rate peaked at 11.4%.
