 As expected, however, the unseasonably cold and snowy weather in
March dampened initial estimates for new hiring. Combined with
continued job loss at the government level, the state recorded 3,200
fewer jobs than in February but 29,400 more than one year ago. The
unemployment rate and job creation numbers can move independently of
each other because they come from different surveys.
The drop in the unemployment rate "highlights significant
progress in our state," said IDES Director Jay Rowell. "Our monthly
numbers will continue to show uneven but measurable progress.
Consumer confidence and its related spending remains a key driver of
our economic growth, especially in construction and manufacturing."
Numbers from the independent Conference Board’s survey of help
wanted ads online show that Illinois employers advertised in March
for more than 195,000 positions, and 85 percent sought full-time
employees. The board is a global business membership and research
association. The numbers measure new, first-time jobs online and
jobs reposted from the previous month on Internet job boards,
corporate boards and smaller, niche websites.
Illinois employers added 257,000 private sector jobs since
January 2010, when job growth returned following nearly two years of
consecutive monthly declines. Leading sectors are professional and
business services, up 119,900, or 15.3 percent; education and health
services, up 56,600, 6.9 percent; and leisure and hospitality, up
40,200, 7.8 percent. Government continues to lead job loss, down
26,500 jobs, a decrease of 3.1 percent.
[to top of second column] |
In March 2014, the number of unemployed individuals fell
17,100, or 3.0 percent, to 551,900. Total unemployed has fallen
201,600, or 26.8 percent, since January 2010, when the rate
peaked at 11.4 percent.
Since January 2010, when compared with the previous month,
Illinois recorded job growth in 35 months and job loss in 15. The
unemployment rate fell in 25 months, increased in nine and was
unchanged in 16.
The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and
seeking employment. Individuals who exhaust their benefits, or are
ineligible, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they
actively seek work. Historically, the national unemployment rate is
lower than the state rate. The state rate has been lower than the
national rate only six times since January 2000. This includes
periods of economic expansion and contraction.
___
To see tables listed below,
click here (PDF):
[Text from
Illinois Department of
Employment Security
file received from the
Illinois Office of Communication and Information]
 |
