Illinois’ jobless rate remained steady last month as the state reversed four months of declines in job growth, according to a report released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
The state’s unemployment rate stayed at 5.4 percent as Illinois added more than 14,100 jobs, primarily in the education and health services sector, which added more than half (7,900) of the jobs, according to the report. Other sectors with gains included leisure and hospitality, with more than 3,500 jobs, and the trade, transportation and utilities sector, which added more than 1,800 jobs.
Still, Illinois’ average job growth since the employment recovery began in 2010 remains below the national average. Nationally, unemployment dipped to 5 percent in October. Employment in Illinois won’t fully recover until December 2016, the report said.
“While the unemployment rate remained unchanged in October, our workforce participation rate edged up slightly as more people entered the labor force and more people found jobs during the month,’ said Jeff Mayes, IDES director.
Declines in the workforce came primarily from the manufacturing sector, which lost more than 1,900 jobs, and professional and business sector, which fell more than 1,100 jobs.
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