By Cole Lauterbach/Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – The latest jobs report shows Illinois gained 2,200 jobs in October, not enough to keep the unemployment rate from rising to 5.6 percent. While the number of manufacturing jobs rose by 1,600 in October, a correction on September’s losses means Illinois has now lost 10,000 manufacturing jobs since October of 2015.
“1,600 new manufacturing jobs is a start, but it is a drop in the bucket compared to the 10,000 manufacturing jobs Illinois has lost over the last 12 months – an average loss of nearly 200 jobs per week,” Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity acting Director Sean McCarthy said.
“We can build on this month’s growth by making Illinois more competitive and affordable for manufacturers. High costs and competition from surrounding states continue to drain manufacturing jobs from Illinois. We saw several manufacturers move across the border to Wisconsin in October.”
Manufacturing and construction aren’t the only sectors with sluggish job growth, Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) Director Jeff Mays said.
“The recovery has been uneven among the various sectors as Illinois still lags in manufacturing, construction and financial activities as well as trade, transportation and utilities,” Mays said.
IDES Spokesman Bob Gough said Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office wants to take steps to reverse the bloodletting of local manufacturing jobs.
“The governor’s administration certainly hopes to enact some form of property tax relief and reforms to workers’ compensation in order to stem that tide,” Gough said.
A bill that would make significant changes to the state’s workers’ compensation laws is scheduled to be discussed in a House committee meeting on Nov. 28.
Gough said the largest contributor to the October unemployment increase is the 3,300 job cuts in construction payrolls.
