Bloomington-Normal jobless rate remains lowest in state

Posted on March 15, 2018
Job application
Most areas of the state recorded job growth and lower unemployment rates in January.
(Photo courtesy Facebook/IDES)

By Greg Halbleib

SPRINGFIELD – Bloomington-Normal continues to record the lowest unemployment rate in Illinois.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports the Twin Cities jobless rate for January was 4.1 percent. It was 5.5 percent one year earlier.

The department’s Bob Gough says Bloomington-Normal added 600 jobs during the year, and is one of 11 of the state’s 14 metro areas adding positions:

“Rockford had the largest growth in percentage at more than four percent, while Springfield had the greatest decline at 2.3,” Gough said.

Gough added the highest job growth numbers for January were in Chicago, Rockford and Lake County.

“We did show growth in manufacturing in 10 metro areas, which was also encouraging,” Gough said.

The unemployment rate decreased over the year in all 14 metro areas for the eighth straight month. Rockford and Peoria reported the largest improvements.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].

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