Illinois Unemployment Rate Falls, Record Payrolls Set

The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported that the state's unemployment rate fell to 4.9% in July, down two-tenths of a percentage point from June's revised rate of 5.1%. The record high total nonfarm payrolls reached 6,176,400 jobs.

In July, employment rose by 11,700 jobs, or 0.2%, over the month, marking the fifth consecutive month of payroll growth in Illinois. Private education and health services saw the largest monthly job gains, up 6,200; trade, transportation, and utilities were up 3,800; and professional and business services were up 3,700.

Compared to a year earlier, total nonfarm payrolls in Illinois were up 11,900 jobs, or 0.2%, matching the national year-over-year growth rate. The largest annual gains came in private education and health services, up 13,000; construction, up 12,700; and government, up 6,100.

Despite the falling unemployment rate, the state's unemployment figure remains higher than a year ago, when it stood at 4.3%. An estimated 315,700 Illinoisans were unemployed in July, down 4.3% from June but up 12.5% from a year earlier.