February unemployment rates increased in all of the metro areas of Illinois compared to last year.
Bloomington's unemployment rate sits at 6.3 percent, but there were job gains in financial services, education, and health services with an estimated 6,200 people in search of work. For Peoria, unemployment hit 8.1 percent with around 15,000 people looking for jobs.
There were job gains in retail trade, hospitality, and government. Declines for both cites were reported in manufacturing, transportation, and utilities. I-D-E-S Director Jeff Mays says structural reforms will provide the resources to build a stronger workforce and help communities achieve economic stability.
Metropolitan Area | February 2016 | February 2015 | Over-the-Year Change |
Bloomington | 6.3% | 5.0% | 1.3 |
Carbondale-Marion | 7.2% | 6.0% | 1.2 |
Champaign-Urbana | 6.2% | 5.4% | 0.8 |
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 6.7% | 6.5% | 0.2 |
Danville | 8.4% | 7.4% | 1.0 |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 6.8% | 6.1% | 0.7 |
Decatur | 8.2% | 7.4% | 0.8 |
Elgin | 7.1% | 6.4% | 0.7 |
Kankakee | 8.1% | 7.4% | 0.7 |
Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 6.7% | 6.1% | 0.6 |
Peoria | 8.1% | 6.7% | 1.4 |
Rockford | 8.0% | 7.2% | 0.8 |
Springfield | 6.3% | 5.7% | 0.6 |
St. Louis (IL-Section) | 7.2% | 6.4% | 0.8 |
Illinois Statewide | 7.0% | 6.5% | 0.5 |
* Data subject to revision. |
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Source: Illinois Dept. of Employment Security