Illinois Unemployment Holds at 5.1% as Job Growth Continues but Lags Behind Last Year
The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) reported that the state’s unemployment rate was 5.1% in April, unchanged from March and up 0.6 percentage points from April last year, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. March’s rate was revised to 5.1%.
Total nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 11,400 (0.2%) in April, reaching 6,158,800. March’s job gain was revised upward from 8,400 to 10,300. These figures reflect activity during the week that includes the 12th of the month.
The largest job gains in April occurred in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+4,600), Leisure and Hospitality (+3,300), and Private Education and Health Services (+3,100). Job losses were seen in Professional and Business Services (-2,400), Financial Activities (-1,400), and Government (-200).
Compared to April last year, total nonfarm jobs decreased by 4,500. The biggest gains over the year were in Private Education and Health Services (+20,100), Construction (+7,300), and Other Services (+3,100). The largest declines were in Professional and Business Services (-14,300), Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-9,900), and Financial Activities (-6,900). Overall, nonfarm employment fell 0.1% in Illinois over the year, while it rose 0.2% nationally.
In April, there were 337,300 unemployed people in Illinois, up 0.8% from March and 12.7% from a year ago. The labor force declined 0.2% from March and 0.8% year over year. The unemployment rate includes people who are not working but are actively looking for a job, even if they are no longer receiving unemployment benefits or are not eligible for them.
