Bloomington-Normal jobless rate reaches 18-year low

Posted on May 25, 2018
job application
Bloomington-Normal had the lowest unemployment rate in Illinois in April. (Pixabay)

By WJBC Staff

SPRINGFIELD – Bloomington-Normal lost 600 jobs over the last year, but the local unemployment rate still dropped to its lowest level since 2000.

The 3.1 percent rate remains best in the state. the unemployment rate is down in all Illinois metro areas for the second month in a row.

Illinois Department of Employment Security spokesman Bob Gough said that shows continued improvement in the economy.

“These unemployment rates are some of the lowest we’ve seen in quite some time and we are at the point where if you are looking for work you should be able to find it,” Gough said.

Jobs were added over the year in nine of the metro areas mostly in the Chicago area and suburbs. Growth was also seen in the Quad Cities, Kankakee and Rockford.

“We saw growth in a major of the metro areas in transportation, warehousing and utilities, professional and business services as well as in manufacturing,” Gough said. “All of those areas had gains.”

The Bloomington-Normal area reports 94,800 non-farm jobs in April.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

 

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