Bloomington-Normal adds jobs, maintains state’s best unemployment rate

Posted on March 30, 2018
Craft beer worker
Bloomington-Normal’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.6 percent in February. (Photo courtesy CNN)

By WJBC Staff

SPRINGFIELD – The unemployment rate fell in nearly all metro areas of Illinois last month compared to the same time last year.

Bloomington-Normal added 700 jobs over the last year to maintain the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 3.6 percent.

State Department of Employment Security spokesperson Bob Gough said 2018 is off to a robust start with declines in the jobless rate in 13 of the 14 metro areas in february.

“When we had 11 of the 14 metros actually gain jobs along with having those lower rates, that’s a pretty good one-two punchm” Gough said.

Eleven metro areas posted over-the-year job gains with Chicago and the suburbs as well as Rockford and the Quad Cities enjoying the most growth. Danville lead job losses.

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