Bloomington Normal unemployment rose in November, compared to last year. The Department of Employment Security says that is also true of the state as a whole. The twin cities jobless rate of 5.4% is up four tenths of a point. Illinois businesses lost jobs in eight metro areas and added positions in six cities including the Bloomington Normal labor market.
Department Director Jeff Mays says while the increase in unemployment rates will garner most of the headlines, more troubling is Illinois’ extremely low employment growth rate this past year. Mays says out of 102 counties in Illinois, 96 remain below their pre-recession 2007 peak employment levels.
The State Department of Employment Security also puts the Peoria jobless rate at 7.1%, up close to a point from November of a year ago. Peoria has lost jobs over the last twelve months. Bloomington Normal has gained positions in the labor force. Manufacturing, government, and construction job sectors are down in both communities.
Bloomington Normal has about 5,400 people looking for a job. Peoria has 13,600 out of work people trying to find a position.
