Bloomington-Normal added 3,000 jobs over the last year, according to data released Friday from the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).
That represents one of the strongest job growth rates among all metro areas in Illinois, though the area’s unemployment rate for May 2023 is unchanged since May 2022 at 3.5%. It’s up from 3.4% in April 2023.
Data from IDES show the Bloomington-Normal labor market, which includes McLean and DeWitt counties, has 98,200 employees on payrolls.
Manufacturing (+900), Government (+700) and Leisure and Hospitality (+600) saw the biggest job gains since May 2022. Professional and Business Services (-100), Information (-100) and Construction (-100) saw modest job losses.
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights has the lowest unemployment in Illinois at 3.2%. The highest rate (5.9%) is in Rockford.
Total nonfarm jobs increased in all 14 metro areas of Illinois over the last year. The statewide unemployment rate is 3.6%.
