By Illinois News Network
SPRINGFIELD – Job gains remain uneven across the state regardless of unemployment rates being down for all major metro areas for the fifteenth month in a row, according to Illinois Department of Employment Security analysis of numbers from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Bloomington-Normal continues to have the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 4.2 percent.
Areas that saw the largest percentage increases were Kankakee, Elgin, Danville and the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division. But, decreases were seen in Decatur, Peoria and Carbondale-Marion. IDES Director Jeff Mays said the vast majority of metro areas continue to fall short of pre-recession employment levels signaling the continued need for a full statewide recovery.
