Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) reported an increase in nonfarm payrolls by 800 jobs in August, while the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 5.3 percent. This data, based on preliminary figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), also included a revision for July's job growth from an initial estimate of 12,900 to 10,300 jobs.

In August, significant job gains were observed in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities with an addition of 2,300 jobs; Construction added 2,200 jobs; and Financial Activities saw an increase of 1,600 jobs. Conversely, Leisure and Hospitality experienced a decline of 2,900 jobs; Professional and Business Services lost 1,600 jobs; and Other Services decreased by 1,500 jobs.

Deputy Governor Andy Manar commented on the labor market's performance: “The strength and stability of the Illinois labor market continues to grow with statewide payroll expansion and the diverse workforce.” Kristin Richards, Director of DCEO added: "As payroll jobs steadily increase, DCEO is committed to our continuous efforts to invest in and support the state's workforce.”

The state’s unemployment rate stood at 5.3 percent for August which was higher than the national rate of 4.2 percent for the same month. Compared to last year’s figures when it was at 4.6 percent, Illinois’ unemployment rate has risen by 0.7 percentage points.

Year-over-year comparisons show that total nonfarm payrolls have increased by approximately 36,300 positions in Illinois. Notable industry growth was seen in Government with an addition of 35,600 jobs; Private Education and Health Services gained about 26,100 positions; while Other Services grew by around 11,200 positions.

IDES continues its role as a resource for both jobseekers and employers through initiatives like hosting job fairs and maintaining Illinois JobLink (IJL), which currently lists over 87 thousand available positions alongside more than sixty thousand resumes.