April unemployment rate declines to 9.3 pct
April
shows job growth over year, loss over month
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[May 18, 2013]
CHICAGO -- The April
unemployment rate fell to 9.3 percent from 9.5 percent in March,
according to preliminary data released Thursday by the U.S. Bureau
of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment
Security. There were 2,000 fewer jobs over the month, yet 40,300
more jobs than one year ago. The data is seasonally adjusted.
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"April data reflects the unevenness of this recovery," said IDES
Director Jay Rowell said. "The up-and-down movement in the monthly
figures masks the 216,000 jobs that have been added during this part
of the economic cycle. This uneven path forward likely will continue
until consumer and business confidence can be sustained at the
national level."
Illinois has added 216,000 private sector jobs since January
2010, when job growth returned following nearly two years of
consecutive monthly declines. Since then, the monthly volatility has
been significant. When compared with the previous month, Illinois
recorded job growth in 27 months and job loss in 13. The
unemployment rate increased in seven months, fell in 13 and was
unchanged in 10.
Leading growth sectors since January 2010 are professional and
business services, up 91,600; education and health services, up
59,600; and trade, transportation and utilities, up 37,600.
Government has lost the most jobs since January 2010: down 24,700.
In April 2013, the number of unemployed individuals decreased
18,000, or 2.9 percent, to 611,000. Total unemployed has fallen
141,200, or 18.8 percent, since early 2010, when the state
unemployment rate peaked at 11.3 percent for the months of January
and February.
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The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and
seeking employment. Individuals who exhaust their benefit, or are
ineligible, will still 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.
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See statistical tables:
"Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates" and "Illinois Seasonally
Adjusted Non-farm Jobs – by Major Industry" (PDF)
[Text from
Illinois
Department of Employment Security
file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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