State Jobless Rate Unchanged in February

The Illinois Department of Employment Security has announced the state unemployment rate for February was unchanged at 4.5%, while nonfarm payrolls inceased by 10,700.

In February, the industry sectors with the largest over-the-month gains in employment included Government, Leisure and Hospitality, and Trade, Transportation and Utilities. The industry sectors with the largest monthly payrolls declines included Professional and Business Services, Information, and Construction.

The state's unemployment rate was 0.9% higher than the national unemployment rate reported for February, which was 3.6%, up .2% from the previous month. The Illinois unemployment rate was down .1% from a year ago, when it was at 4.6%.