Illinois unemployment rises despite adding 15,000 jobs

Posted on April 15, 2016
Job application
Illinois’ unemployment rate rose to 6.5 percent in March. (Photo courtesy Facebook/IDES)

By Cole Lauterbach/Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – Unemployment numbers in Illinois are still lagging behind the rest of the nation.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security released its monthly jobs report Thursday, which shows that Illinois is still failing to keep up with the rest of the nation in growth. While the state added almost 15,000 jobs, the unemployment rate for March rose to 6.5 percent from 6.4 percent in February. The national rate is 5 percent.

Labor Market Director Evelina Loescher said more people are looking for work, but the jobs aren’t there.

“We’re growing faster in Illinois in terms of people entering the labor market and not being able to find jobs,” Loescher said.

Some industries fared better than others in March. The leisure and hospitality industry added more than 6,000 jobs last month. The manufacturing sector lost 3,100 jobs in March.

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