The Bloomington-Normal unemployment rate ticked up over the last year despite the addition of 3,200 jobs, an apparent sign more people are trying to return to the workforce as the economy expands.
Data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security show the Twin Cities added 1,000 jobs in government over the last year, and also saw job gains in retail trade (+700) and educational and health services (+600).
The area lost a net 100 jobs in business and professional services.
Total payroll for the Bloomington-Normal market area that includes McLean and DeWitt counties, is 96,600 through November.
The Twin Cities has a jobless rate of 3.4%. That's a full point better than the state average and remains the lowest among all 14 metro areas in Illinois. It was one of four metro areas that saw an increase in the jobless rate from November 2021.
Rockford has the highest unemployment in Illinois at 5.8%.
