Statewide unemployment falls to 10 percent in November; 600 jobs added

By Editor | December 21, 2011 |

The November unemployment rate fell to 10 percent as the state added 600 jobs, according to preliminary data released last week by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). The data is seasonally adjusted.
The decline from 10.1 percent occurs as Illinois has added jobs in eight of the past 11 months.
“Illinois’ economy continues to take small, positive steps, despite the pressure of an uneven national recovery,” IDES Director Jay Rowell said. “Illinois has recorded job growth in eight of 11 months. We have averaged nearly 6,000 new jobs each month this year. And we continue to lead the Midwest in job growth since the recovery began. This is progress that people can see. Illinois’ economy is moving in the right direction.”
Illinois has added 62,300 jobs so far this year, and 105,600 jobs since January 2010, when job growth returned to Illinois after 23 consecutive months of declines. That represents a 1.9-percent job growth.
Since January 2010, leading growth sectors in Illinois are professional and business services (up 53,800 jobs); educational and health services (up 38,100); trade, transportation and utilities (up 22,600); and manufacturing (up 18,200). Government has lost the most jobs since January 2010, down 13,600.
In November 2011, unemployed individuals decreased for the first time since April – down 8,100 (1.2 percent) to 660,600. Total unemployed has declined 79,500 (10.7 percent) since January 2010, when the state unemployment rate peaked at 11.2 percent.
The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. A person who exhausts benefits, or is ineligible, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.
The IDES supports economic stability by administering unemployment benefits, collecting business contributions to fund those benefits, connecting employers with qualified job seekers, and providing economic information to assist career planning and economic development. It does so through nearly 60 offices, including Illinois workNet centers.
The jobless rate for the United States in November was 8.6 percent. That's down from 9 percent in October, and well below the 9.8 percent national jobless rate recorded in November of 2010.