Bloomington-Normal added about 1,600 jobs over the past year. That’s a slower pace than the area saw in recent years, but the area still has the lowest unemployment rate in the state.
Data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) show all 14 metro areas in Illinois saw a rise in unemployment since June 2022, except Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights.
The jobless rate for the Bloomington-Normal job market (that includes McLean and DeWitt Counties) increased a half-point, to 4.3% over the last year, despite adding jobs.
State labor data show the area saw the most job gains in manufacturing (+900), leisure and hospitality (+500) and retail trade (+400). The largest job declines were in government, which lost about 500 jobs.
Bloomington-Normal’s unemployment rate equals the Chicago market area, along with the Quad Cities market that includes Davenport, Iowa and Moline and Rock Island in Illinois.
Decatur and Rockford have the highest unemployment at 6.3%.
Unemployment statewide is 4.8%
