Bloomington-Normal’s unemployment rate increased in June, though the Twin Cities added jobs over the last year.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported Thursday that the jobless rate for Bloomington-Normal rose from 3.3% to 3.7% from May to June, but it marks a drop from the 4.7% rate in June 2018.
IDES said Bloomington-Normal added 500 nonfarm jobs over the last year to 91,000.
Unemployment rates dropped in all 14 metro areas in Illinois over the last year.
“Job growth is reaching all corners of Illinois and this administration is acting boldly to build upon that momentum,” said Deputy Gov. Dan Hynes. “On the strength of a bipartisan budget and capital bill, Illinois is once again investing in its roads, bridges and universities to create an economy that supports working families.”
Bloomington-Normal saw the biggest job growth in government (300 jobs), leisure and hospitality (300 jobs), professional and business services (200 jobs), financial activity (100 jobs), educational and health services (100 jobs) and wholesale trade (100 jobs). The Twin Cities saw employment declines in manufacturing (200 jobs), retail trade (200 jobs) and other services (200 jobs).
Bloomington-Normal trails only Springfield and Lake County-Kenosha, Wis. Both markets reported 3.6% unemployment last month. Rockford has the highest unemployment in Illinois at 5.5%.
Unemployment statewide fell from 4.7% to 4% over the last year.
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