SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) released new statewide data on Thursday, showing the department processed 102,937 new initial unemployment claims.
The IDES processed more than 755,000 initial unemployment claims from March 1st through April 18th of 2020.
According to the IDES, this is 12 times the number of claims the department processed over the same period this time last year, when the IDES processed 61,000 initial unemployment claims.
From March 1st through April 16th, the department paid out more than $700 million in benefits.
Over all employment numbers in the state from March reflect the impact of COVID-19.
The Peoria area of non-farm payroll employment decreased by 4,300 jobs compared to one year ago.
Despite the decrease, there were job gains reported in the Peoria area.
Educational and Health Services reported 400 new jobs and Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities gained 100 jobs.
The largest declines were reported in Leisure and Hospitality as 1,600 jobs were lost; manufacturing lost 1,400; and 1,200 jobs were lost in Professional & Business Services.
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Peoria area decreased to 3.9 percent in March 2020 from 5.5 percent in March 2019.
