Illinois’ unemployment rate crept up to 5.3% in August, making the state home to the second highest rate in the country and further drawing the ire of Republican State Senator Craig Wilcox.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that at least 343,000 residents were left looking for work last month as the state’s unemployment rate easily topped the national average of 4.2% and ranked higher than all neighboring states.
Illinois saw its largest growth rates in state government, adding some 10,000 jobs for a 7% percent increase. At the same time, the professional and business sector saw the largest rate decline at nearly 28,000 fewer positions than in 2023. Since the pandemic, the job recovery rate in Illinois ranks 46th in the country with only 13,500 jobs than were available in early 2020.
Story from Illinois Radio Network
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