Area unemployment drops for sixth straight month

Posted on December 29, 2017
Employment Application
Bloomington-Normal’s jobless rate was 3.9 percent in November. (Photo courtesy Flickr/Flazingo Photos)

By Greg Halbleib

SPRINGFIELD – Unemployment in all of the state’s metropolitan areas dropped for the sixth consecutive month according to the latest numbers from the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

Bloomington-Normal recorded the state’s lowest jobless rate of 3.9 percent in November, down from 4.6 percent in November 2016.

The statewide unemployment rate is 4.7 percent, down from 5.2 percent one year earlier.

The agency also reports the Bloomington-Normal area recorded a net gain of 500 jobs during the past 12 months for a total of 95,500.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].

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