Unemployment in March was 6% for the Bloomington Normal area. The State Department of Employment Security says that's an increase of nearly one and a half points from the same month last year.
State numbers show about 5,900 people out of work and looking for a job last month. From October to March the number of unemployed rose by 1,100. The Mitsubishi layoffs are the main factor, though a shrinking government sector is also part of the picture.
The state says 2,200 Bloomington Normal workers have disappeared from the labor force over the last twelve months.
Job gains were reported for Bloomington Normal in Financial Activities (+500), Educational and Health Services (+400), Leisure and Hospitality (+100), and Other Services (+100). Declines were reported in Manufacturing (-1,000), Professional and Business Services (-900), Government (-500), Retail Trade (-400), Construction (-400), and Transportation and Warehousing.
The Peoria unemployment rate is at 7.7%, up one and a half points from last year at this time.
All metropolitan areas in Illinois experienced over the year unemployment rate increases for the second consecutive month.
