(The Center Square) – Illinois’ unemployment rate is more than a full percentage point higher than the national rate, but Gov. J.B. Pritzker says things are getting better.
The August jobless rate for the state was 5.3%, tied with California for second highest in the U.S. after Nevada at 5.5%.
The national unemployment rate was 4.2%.
Pritzker cited new data that showed improvement in the labor market.
“If you look at the unemployment numbers that came out today, what it shows is that unemployment is going down in the majority of the metro areas across the state of Illinois. That’s great. Jobs are going up. Unemployment is coming down. That’s great for the state,” Pritzker said.
The governor cited data released Thursday from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security showing that total non-farm jobs increased in eight metropolitan areas, decreased in five and remained unchanged in one for the year ending August 2024.
The overall unemployment rate for those areas, however, was 0.4% higher than last year.