CHICAGO - The unemployment rate in Illinois went up two-tenths of a percentage from 5.8% in May to 6.0% in June, according to labor statistics released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) on Thursday.
IDES announced that Illinois added 6,700 non-farm jobs in the month of June when compared to May. IDES also reported that the state has added a total of 50,900 jobs over the past year.
However, Illinois’ unemployment rate is twenty percent higher than the national average at 6% compared to the national average of 5%. Only Ohio and Michigan have higher unemployment rates in the Midwest.
In a written statement, IDES Director Brenda A. Russell credited Gov. Blagojevich for the additional jobs saying, "The consistent growth of new jobs in Illinois reflects the successes produced by Governor Blagojevich’s economic development strategy."
Russell’s statements come with amid unemployment data that have remained virtually stagnant over the last 12 months. According to IDES’ own numbers, the total number of unemployed in June 2005 was 387,600 compared with 387,500 a year ago.
"You have to look at things in a historical perspective," said Todd Maisch, Vice President of Government Relations for the Illinois Commerce Chamber, "Illinois is setting itself up to be a (jobs) laggard."
Email This Page!