Illinois jobless rate inches up

Posted on August 18, 2017
Illinois’ jobless rate rose to 4.8 percent in July.(Photo courtesy Facebook/Illinois Department of Employment Security)

By WJBC Staff

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois unemployment rate increased slightly last month.

The jobless rate rose to 4.8 percent in july. Illinois Department of Employment Security spokesman Bob Gough said job growth in Illinois remains below the national average.

“The country as a whole generated 209,000 jobs and undfortunately we were only about to account for about 2,100 of those,” Gough said.

Job growth was seen last month in professional and business services and leisure and hospitality. Losses were felt in construction, transportation and education and health services.

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