Unemployment rate increases in Illinois: IDES

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) released key statistics related to the unemployment rate in Illinois. According to the announcement, the statewide unemployment rate increased 0.7% in December. The current unemployment rate in Illinois is 7.6 percent. The IDES report is based on the data provided by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The IDES noted that the nonfarm payrolls remained unchanged in the state in December. The unemployment rate in Illinois was +0.9 percentage point higher than the national unemployment rate in December. The national unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in December and it remained unchanged as compared to November.

In December 2019, the Illinois unemployment rate was 3.7 percent. So, December 2020 saw a rise of +3.9 percentage points as compared to the previous year. However, some sectors of the state saw a noticeable rise in the employment rate in December including Professional and Business Services, Construction, and Trade, Transportation and Utilities. The Construction sector added 8300 jobs while the Professional and Business Services sector added 13000 jobs. Similarly, the Trade, Transportation, and Utilities sector added 10100 jobs.

“The administration remains focused on continuing to support claimants and their families through the pandemic’s ongoing impact on our economy,” said Dan Hynes, the deputy governor of Illinois. He added that the state was committed to providing opportunities to the working families that were affected badly by the pandemic.

Erin Guthrie, the director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), appreciated the leadership of JB Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, in terms of taking necessary actions to aid economic recovery. “We invest in programs to help restore our smallest and most vulnerable businesses and revitalize our Illinois economy,” said Guthrie. The state is committed to deal with the aftermaths of the pandemic wisely.