State Jobless Rate for March at 4.7%

The state unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage point in March to 4.7 percent, while nonfarm payrolls increased by 18,300.

In March, the industry sectors with the largest over-the-month gains in employment were: Professional and Business (9,700), Financial Activities (3,800), and Leisure and Hospitality (3,500). The industry sectors that reported monthly payroll declines were: Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-3,500), Other Services (-1,200) and Mining (-100). 

The state’s unemployment rate was 1.1 percentage points higher than the national unemployment rate reported for March, which was 3.6 percent, down 0.2 percentage point from the previous month. The Illinois unemployment rate was down 2.0 percentage points from a year ago when it was at 6.7 percent.

Compared to a year ago, nonfarm payroll employment increased by 238,300 jobs, with gains across nearly all major industries. The industry groups with the largest jobs increases were: Leisure and Hospitality (87,600), Professional and Business Services (55,000), and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (40,200). Construction was the only industry that reported a decrease (-700). In March, total nonfarm payrolls were up 4.1 percent over-the-year in Illinois and up 4.5 percent in the nation.

The number of unemployed workers was down from the prior month, a 3.0 percent decrease to 299,300 and was down 29.4 percent over the same month for one year ago. The labor force was up 0.4 percent over-the-month and up 2.2 percent over-the-year.