State jobless rate remains steady, number of jobs drops

Posted on October 19, 2017
Employment Application
Bloomington-Normal’s jobless rate was 5.0 percent in September. (Photo courtesy Flickr/Flazingo Photos)

By Greg Halbleib

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois unemployment remained steady from August to September according to the latest figures released Thursday.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports the statewide rate remained at 5.0 percent in September.

The numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also show the number of non-farm jobs dropped by 10,800 over the month. The agency reports the six-month trend was a loss of about 4,200 jobs per month with a loss of 400 jobs per month over the past three months.

“The Illinois economy continues to sputter.” said IDES Director Jeff Mays in a release. “Moving one step forward and one step backward, as we have done this past number of months, does little to build the positive jobs momentum that most other states have built during this recovery.”

“Illinois stands apart in terms of the assets and opportunities we have to offer business across industries,” said Illinois Department of Commerce Director Sean McCarthy in the release. “We must continue to market our exceptional assets while implementing reforms that boost our economy and make us competitive on a national stage.”

 

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