Illinois Unemployment Rate Down in May

The Illinois Department of Employment Security announced that the state unemployment rate fell from 4.2% to 4.1% in May. Non-farm payrolls increased by 2,500 for the month.

In May, the industry sectors with the largest over-the-month job gains included: Government, up 2,600; Financial Activities, up 1,900; and Leisure and Hospitality, up 1,400. The industry sectors with the largest monthly payroll job declines included: Construction, down 2,400; Manufacturing, down 1,700; and Information, down 800.

The state's unemployment rate was 0.4% higher than the national unemployment rate reported for May, the smallest difference since February 2020. The national unemployment rate was 3.7% in May, up from 3.4% in April. The Illinois unemployment rate was down 0.3% from a year ago, when it was at 4.4%.