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All Illinois metro areas see unemployment decrease

By Wordpress Admin User Jul 24, 2015 | 6:01 AM

Job application — The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports the state’s jobless rate dropped to 5.9 percent in June. (Photo courtesy Facebook/IDES)

By Illinois News Network

SPRINGFIELD – Every metro area in Illinois is enjoying a 16th month-in-a-row drop in the unemployment rate, but only eight of those areas added jobs.

Illinois Department of Employment Security Director Jeff Mays said the collar counties around Chicago gained jobs but the rest of the state had a net loss. Bloomington-Normal reports the lowest jobless rate in the state at 4.6 percent, tied with Springfield.

Mays also said there needs to be a full statewide recovery. Areas outside of Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights that saw the greatest gains over the year were the Elgin and Lake County-Kenosha County metro divisions with the leading industry being retail. The greatest losses over the year were in the Peoria and metro St. Louis areas.