The Illinois unemployment rate rose to 6.3 percent in February. That is up from 6.1 percent in January. The good news is that 1500 jobs were added in February says State Department of Employment Security Analyst Evelina Loescher.
Agency Director Jim Schultz calls it “outrageous” that the state unemployment rate is so much higher than the five percent national rate. He says state leaders need to work to create more jobs in Illinois.