Bloomington-Normal added 300 jobs over the last year as the local unemployment rate dropped nearly a full percentage point.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security on Thursday reported the Bloomington-Normal jobless rate at 3.6% in August, trailing only Springfield among the state's 14 metro areas. Bloomington-Normal's jobless rate was 4.4% in August 2018.
The Twin Cities added jobs in leisure and hospitality (+400), government (+300), professional and business services (+200) and construction (+100). The area lost jobs in manufacturing (-300), financial activities (-200), retail (-100), and education and health services (-100).
The area has an estimated 3,350 unemployed people in the workforce, down from 3,000 in July.
The state added jobs in each market over the last year except Peoria and Kankakee.
The statewide unemployment rate fell from 4.3% to 3.8% from August 2018 to last month. The national jobless rate dropped to 3.7%.
Unemployment
Infogram
WGLT depends on financial support from users to bring you stories and interviews like this one. As someone who values experienced, knowledgeable, and award-winning journalists covering meaningful stories in Central Illinois, please consider making a contribution.
