SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The state says more jobs continue to be added to the rolls in the year-over-year period ending in July, but unemployment rates are increasing.
Federal data provided by the Illinois Department of Employment Security indicates the state’s unemployment rate dropped two tenths of a percent from July of last year, and now sits at 4.5 percent.
That’s not the case, however, in many metro areas including Peoria.
The Peoria-area jobless average for July is a not-seasonally-adjusted 5.5 percent – a 1.2 percentage point increase compared to July, 2022.
The state says, though, that non-farm payroll jobs in the area increased by 3,000 in the period; with losses in the information, financial activities, and transportation, warehousing, and utilities sectors somewhat offset by gains in areas like Education and Health Services.
The City of Peoria’s unemployment is at 6.4 percent, up 1.3 percentage points. Peoria County is at 6.0 percent, up 1.2 percentage points. Tazewell County’s unemployment is at 5.0 percent, up 0.9 percentage points. And, Woodford County’s jobless average increased 1.0 percentage points, to 4.3 percent.
