Illinois Unemployment Rate Holds at 4.6% in July

Illinois payrolls dipped slightly in July, but according to a press release from the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), year-over-year job growth remains steady.

Illinois Payrolls See Little Change in July

The IDES reported on Friday (8/15) that the state's labor market remained steady in July, with total nonfarm jobs declining slightly (-2,500 jobs).

This decline follows a revision in the June numbers, which showed a 9,400 job increase, but were actually down to 2,300.

Job Gains and Losses by Sector

According to the report, industries with the strongest job growth included:

Construction +2,900
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities +1,700
Private Education and Health Services +1,100

However, there were steep declines in other sectors:

Professional and Business Services -3,500
Government -2,900
Leisure and Hospitality -1,200

Over the past year, Illinois' payrolls added 20,300 jobs overall, with the largest gains coming from Private Education and Health Services, up 17,400 jobs.

Unemployment Rate Holds Steady

According to the report, Illinois' unemployment rate held at 4.6 percent in July, which is unchanged from June, and a little higher than the national average of 3.9 percent.

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The number of unemployed workers dropped to 300,700, down 2.1 percent from June and 11.1 percent lower than a year ago at this time.

State Officials Cite Workforce Strength

Deputy Governor Andy Manar credited "strategic investment and strong partnerships" for maintaining the stability in the state's labor market, while DCEO Director Kristin Richards highlighted the state's commitment to job creation and retention.

IDES is connecting job seekers with employers through Illinois JobLink, and with upcoming hiring events, there are currently over 66,000 job postings and over 63,000 resumes.

According to the press release, the agency also provides resources for workers impacted by federal employment changes.