Unemployment Reaches 6 year low

The local unemployment rate dropped to 4.4% in August, the lowest it has been since 2000, when it was also 4.4%. This puts the rate below the Illinois and National average which was both at 4.6%.

The highest rate in Illinois was Alexander county at 9.9%. The lowest was Brown and Mc Henry tie at 3.4%

The future looks bright for job seekers.

“Unemployment continues to decline in Illinois and new jobs are being created at a strong and steady pace as economic activity increases,” IDES Director Brenda A. Russell said.

The biggest growers were Management, business, and financial operations occupations and Production, transportation, and material moving occupations each with about half a million new workers. Farming, fishing, and forestry shrank by about 100,000.