Nonfarm payrolls in Illinois increased by 4,100, or 0.1%, over the month to reach a new record high of 6,172,500 payroll jobs in April, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced.
In its monthly unemployment report Thursday, May 15, IDES said it marks the second new record in as many months as well as the third consecutive month of job growth for the state.
The previous record was set in March when nonfarm payrolls hit 6,168,400 jobs. In addition, IDES said the March monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report from +14,800 jobs to up +10,900 jobs.
Meanwhile, the state’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.8% in April. The March revised unemployment rate also was 4.8% and unchanged from the preliminary rate. The April payroll jobs estimate and unemployment rate reflect activity for the week including April 12.
“Illinois’ labor market continues to demonstrate strength and value for both jobseekers and employers despite continued uncertainty from the federal government and economic headwinds,” Deputy Gov. Andy Manar said in the news release. “With three consecutive months of job growth and two months of record-breaking payrolls, the state’s economy has continued to show stability and resiliency.”
According to IDES, the state’s industry sectors with the largest over-the-month job increases in April were: Government (+2,700), Private Education and Health Services (+1,700), and Leisure and Hospitality (+1,500). The largest monthly payroll job decreases were in these sectors: Professional and Business Services (-1,400), Manufacturing (-1,200) and Other Services (-500).
Compared to a year ago, the state’s total nonfarm payroll jobs increased by +36,100 jobs. The industry groups with the largest job increases included: Private Education and Health Services (+18,200), Government (+16,800), and Leisure and Hospitality (+10,300). The industry groups with jobs decreases included: Professional and Business Services (-11,500), and Manufacturing (-5,300). In April, total nonfarm payrolls were up +0.6% over-the-year in Illinois and up +1.2% in the nation.
“Consistent record high job growth throughout the state is a prime example of DCEO’s commitment to bolstering the state’s economic ecosystem,” said Kristin Richards, director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. “Through continuously investing in and prioritizing our state’s world-class workforce, Illinois remains the best place to live, work and do business.”
The number of unemployed workers was 321,700, up +0.1% from the prior month, and down -4% over the same month one year ago. The labor force was nearly unchanged over-the-month and up +0.4% over-the-year.
In the wake of recent federal funding cuts and related job losses, IDES in partnership with Illinois Department of Labor and DCEO is publishing resources to assist federal employees and contractors impacted by terminations or deferred resignations.
IDES helps connect jobseekers to employers by hosting and co-hosting job fairs and hiring events with statewide workforce partners, and through its Illinois JobLink (IJL), the state’s largest job search engine. The IJL tool is used by jobseekers to look for work, and by employers who can post open and available positions as well as browse resumes. Recently, IJL had 60,794 posted resumes with 71,544 jobs available.
