March 29, 2024
Local News | Bureau County Republican


Local News

Job report: Illinois loses 2,200 jobs in June

Middle-class job opportunities continue to fade

CHICAGO — Illinois lost 2,200 jobs in June, according to a report released Monday, July 25, by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data show Illinois’ economy remains stagnant with the report showing a net job loss and a significant workforce dropout.

The overall jobs loss for the state was driven by a large loss of 7,300 jobs in education and health services. There were modest gains in professional and business services and financial services of 3,000 and 1,700 jobs, respectively. Illinois’ manufacturing sector – an important benchmark for middle class job performance – showed a small gain of 100 jobs. However, the large losses in some sectors were not offset by the gains in other sectors, resulting in the net loss of 2,200 jobs on the month.

The report also shows the unemployment rate fell from 6.4 to 6.2 percent in June, due to a dramatic workforce drop out with 36,000 people leaving the labor force. Of those, 17,500 had been previously unemployed. Illinois is now tied for third highest unemployment rate with Louisiana and New Mexico, and only slightly trailing Alaska at 6.7 percent and Nevada at 6.4 percent.

“Overall job growth continues to be weak in Illinois’ economy, which was one of the last to recover from the Great Recession. The jobs Illinois is producing are focused in the white-collar service sector such as business services. On the other hand, Illinois’ continued industrial weakness and loss of blue-collar jobs is directly connected to Illinois’ unfriendly business climate and anti-industrial policies. Policies such as excessively high industrial property taxes and burdensome workers’ compensation regulations should be fixed so that Illinoisans can find rewarding work opportunities,” said Michael Lucci, vice president of policy at Illinois Policy Institute.

Highlights from the report include:

Illinois’ unemployment rate for June dropped to 6.4 percent from May’s 6.2 percent, due to a workforce drop out of 36,000 people.

Illinois’ June unemployment rate compared to surrounding states:

• Illinois 6.2 percent

• Kentucky 5.0 percent

• Ohio 5.0 percent

• Indiana 4.8 percent

• Michigan 4.6 percent

• Missouri 4.5 percent

• Wisconsin 4.2 percent

• Iowa 4.0 percent

• Minnesota 3.8 percent

June jobs growth for neighboring and Great Lakes states:

• Illinois lost 2,200 jobs

• Indiana gained 4,200 jobs

• Iowa gained 5,100 jobs

• Kentucky gained 1,800 jobs

• Michigan gained 19,700 jobs

• Minnesota gained 7,300 jobs

• Missouri’s jobs count stayed the same

• Ohio gained 12,400 jobs

• Wisconsin gained 5,300 jobs