SPRINGFIELD – With little mention of the burgeoning national economy generally attributed to President Donald Trump's policies, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) boasted the state's unemployment rate fell another .1 percentage points to 3.8 percent – a new historical low – in November 2019.
“With unemployment at a record low, this administration remains committed to strengthening Illinois’ economy and implementing policies that lift up working families,” said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. “Governor Pritzker has taken historic actions this year to build a foundation for long-term job growth. From a new bipartisan capital bill to pension reform and a raise in the minimum wage, this administration is working towards its goal of fostering an environment for businesses and working people to thrive in.”
The state’s unemployment rate is +0.3 percentage points higher than the national unemployment rate reported for November 2019, which was 3.5 percent and down -0.1 percentage point from the previous month. The Illinois unemployment rate was down -0.5 percentage points from a year ago when it was 4.3 percent.
“During his first year in office, Governor Pritzker made addressing the needs of the state’s workforce and business community a top priority” said Erin Guthrie, Acting Director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. “Thanks to the passage of a new capital plan and landmark legislation like an increased minimum wage, Illinois is back on the path to economic stability.”
Compared to a year ago, nonfarm payroll employment increased by +40,600 jobs with the largest gains in: Leisure and Hospitality (+18,100), Educational and Health Services (+14,700), and Government (+11,400). The industry sectors with the largest over-the-year declines were: Construction (-4,000), Professional and Business Services (-2,300) and Information (-1,400). Illinois nonfarm payrolls were up +0.7 percent over-the-year as compared to the nation’s +1.5 percent over-the-year gain in November.
The number of unemployed workers decreased from the prior month, -2.0 percent to 246,000, a new record low, and was down -10.8 percent over the same month for the prior year. The labor force was down -0.1 percent over-the-month but up +0.4 percent over-the-year. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment.
An individual who exhausts or is ineligible for benefits is still reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work. IDES maintains the state’s largest job search engine, IllinoisJoblink.com (IJL), to help connect jobseekers to employers who are hiring, which recently showed 61,090 posted resumes with 94,206 jobs available.
