The unemployment rate in Illinois fell slightly to 5.2% in December, while nonfarm jobs increased by almost 9,000.
Those are among the latest job stats released last week by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).
In addition, the unemployment report showed the November monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from down -3,400 to down -5,400. The revised unemployment rate was 5.3%, unchanged from the preliminary rate, according to an IDES news release.
In December, the industry sectors with the largest over-the-month job increases included: financial activities (+2,900), private education and health services (+2,600), and government (+2,000). The industry sectors with monthly payroll job decreases included: professional and business services (-2,100) and other services (-1,000).
“IDES and its workforce development partners are committed to ensuring everyone has the tools and resources they need to find professional opportunities to participate in and benefit from the stability of the state’s economic activity,” Illinois Deputy Gov. Andy Manar said in the IDES release. “The state continues to prioritize its workforce investments that assist with growth and expansion that benefit both jobseekers and employers.”
“Our commitment to strategically investing in the state’s workforce is essential to ensuring all Illinoisans have access to good-paying jobs,” the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Kristin Richards added. “As unemployment rates decrease and payroll job numbers grow, DCEO is dedicated to building upon our efforts to bolster the state’s economy.”
The state’s unemployment rate was +1.1 percentage points higher than the national unemployment rate in December. Nationally, unemployment was 4.1% in December, down -0.1 percentage point from the previous month. The Illinois unemployment rate was up +0.5 percentage point from a year ago when it was 4.7%.
The number of unemployed workers in December was 340,400, or down -1.7% from the prior month, and up +11.8% over the same month one year ago. The labor force was up +0.1% over-the-month and up +1.2% over-the-year.
The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment. An individual who exhausts or is ineligible for benefits is still reflected in the rate if they actively seek work.
Here are the latest area county and city over-the-month unemployment figures reported by IDES:
- Henry County: 5.3%, up 1.1% from 4.2% in November.
- Mercer County: 4.9%, up 1% from 3.9%.
- Rock Island County: 5.7%, up 1.3% from 4.4%.
- Moline: 5.8%, up 1.5% from 4.3%.
- City of Rock Island: 5.9%, up 1.5% from 4.4%.
