December unemployment rate breaks records for metro-east, labor bureau says
Unemployment rates in the metro-east continued to fall in the final month of 2019, hitting a record low.
Last month marked the lowest December unemployment rate on record for the region, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, following the lowest November on record for the state.
The metro-east saw a 1.4 percent drop from an unemployment rate of 5.1% in December of 2018 and a 3% drop from the month prior. Statewide unemployment saw a .9 percent drop in unemployment form this time last year.
“Under Governor Pritzker’s leadership, we now have the lowest unemployment rate in state history with the most jobs on record,” said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. “The governor is committed to building on this progress by attracting new businesses to Illinois, putting people to work on our infrastructure and creating opportunities for communities that have been left behind for too long.”
In the area, the number of employed workers increased by 3,219 to 329,955 in December 2019, according to labor data.
According to the state, employment increased in government, transportation, warehousing, and utilities, mining and construction, manufacturing, and retail trade, professional and business services, educational and health services, and leisure and hospitality.
Some industries did see decreased in employment, however. Financial activities, information, and jobs that fall into the “other services” categories, all saw shrinking employment.
Area officials have said the strong job growth in the metro-east is a result of, not only the economy, but also a local focus on training untapped workforce pools to fill in-demand positions throughout the area.