Illinois Unemployment Rate Matches Record Low

ACROSS ILLINOIS — The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) recently announced that last month's unemployment rate matched the lowest on record. According to a Sept. 20 report from the IDES, the state's unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent in August, which plays a role in what Illinois Department of Commerce Director Sean McCarthy said is Illinois' best employment environment since 1999.

“Even with the over-the-month drop, nonfarm payrolls have surpassed the prior business cycle peak of September 2000. Jobs are still up more than 47,000 over the year, led by manufacturing,” IDES Director Jeff Mays said.

That's .2 percent less than the month prior as Patch reported in July that Illinois' unemployment rate was 4.3 percent, down from 4.5 percent in June and down .8 percent compared with a year ago, according to the IDES.

The U.S. unemployment rate has stayed at 3.9 percent July and August, according to IDES.

However, IDES said from June to August job growth dwindled as the average monthly gain was 4,000 jobs, less than May to July's average monthly gain of 8,300 jobs.

Last month's industry sectors with the largest increases in employment were:

• Professional and Business Services (+900)
• Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+400)
• Financial Activities (+400)

Last month's industry sectors with the largest payroll declines were:

• Leisure and Hospitality (-3,600)
• Education and Health Services (-1,300)
• Construction (-1,200)

More: ides.illinois.gov

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