SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the jobless average for all fourteen metro areas of the state is down from the year before, and that includes Peoria.
Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicates the Peoria area’s unemployment average going down to 4.4% last month — a decrease of seven tenths of a point from the same period last year.
The city’s unemployment average went down 1.7 percentage points to 5.7%, while Pekin’s average went down one percentage point to 3.9%.
State officials say the Peoria area saw non-farm payroll jobs increase by 4,300 in that one year period. Manufacturing, professional-business services, government, and construction jobs led the gains; while declines were seen in retail trade and information.
“Illinois continues to see steady job growth throughout the state,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar, in a news release. “As unemployment insurance claims remain at record lows, the state labor market is ripe with opportunity for every type of jobseeker.”
(Source: Illinois Department of Employment Security/Bureau of Labor Statistics)
