Metro Unemployment Falls Again Across Illinois

Illinois in August added a fifth consecutive month of across-the-board unemployment declines in its 12 metro areas.

The state Department of Employment Security said Thursday in its monthly report on metro unemployment that the jobless rate in the Champaign-Urbana area fell to 7.4%. a year eariler it was 8.9%

The Danville area saw a steep drop in unemployment from last year, falling from 12.2% in August 2013 to 9.7% last month.

A steep drop was also seen in the Decatur area, where unemployment fell from 12.5% a year earlier to 9.4%.

Peoria had the highest unemployment rate of the major metro areas, as 7.7%, while Chicago-Joliet-Naperville had the lowest rate, at 6.2%.

Department Director Jay Rowell said the trend will be interesting to watch as employers add seasonal workers in the next few months.  

The department said earlier this month that statewide unemployment stood at 6.7 percent in August.

   Metropolitan Area                 August 2014   August 2013  
     Bloomington-Normal            6.5%              7.6%  
     Champaign-Urbana              7.4%              8.9%  
     Chicago-Joliet-Naperville      6.2%               9.1%  
     Danville                              9.7%              12.2%  
     Davenport-Moline-Rock Isl.   6.2%                6.7%  
     Decatur                              9.4%               12.5%  
     Kankakee-Bradley               9.0%               10.9%  
     Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI            6.7%                8.1%  
     Peoria                                 7.7%                9.4%  
     Rockford                              9.4%              11.4%  
     Springfield                            6.5%                7.6%  
     St. Louis (IL-Section)            7.0%                 9.0%  
     ___  
     Source: Illinois Department of Employment Security