Unemployment in Bloomington-Normal held steady at 3.6 percent last month compared to September 2017.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported there are about 3,500 people out of work and looking for a job in the metro area. That compares with more than 6,800 job openings advertised regionally. State officials say the number of openings is actually undercounted because some industries don't advertise job opportunities.
The number of jobs held in the community in Bloomington-Normal is down by 400 compared to the same time last year.
The Bloomington Normal metro area tied last month with Lake and Kenosha counties for the lowest metro area unemployment rate in the state.
Illinois Department of Employment Security Director Jeff Mays said the state saw its lowest number of September unemployment claims in the last 45 years.
The Leisure and Hospitality, Education and Health Service, and Professional and Business Service sectors grew in the Bloomington Normal labor market. But the Retail, Government, and Financial parts of the workforce shrank.
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