State Jobless Rate Improves Slightly for April

The Illinois jobless rate for April stood at 4.6%, down a tenth of a percent from March. Non-farm payrolls increased by 9,300 in April.

The industry sectors with the largest over-the-month gains in employment in April were Leisure and Hospitality, Manufacturing, and Educational and Health Services. The sectors that reported the largest monthly payroll declines were Professional and Business, Financial Activities, and Trade, Transportation and Utilities. 

The state's unemployment rate was 1% higher than the national unemployment rate reported for April, which was 3.6%, unchanged from March. The Illinois unemployment rate was down 2% from a year ago when it was at 6.6%.