State loses 4,100 jobs in December, but jobless rate drops to 9.8 percent

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Updated: February 22, 2012 8:04AM

The state lost 4,100 jobs in December from November, but the unemployment rate fell to 9.8 percent from 10 percent, the Illinois Department of Employment Security said Friday.

Year-over-year, the state added 52,600 jobs, but the jobless rate rose from 9.2 percent.

The unemployment rate can go down even when jobs are lost when fewer people look for work. The jobless rate can go up when jobs are added when more people look for work.

“Monthly snapshots are just that, but looking at long-term trends reveals the path we are taking,” IDES Director Jay Rowell said. “Our long-term growth trajectory shows Illinois’ economy moving forward and in the right direction.”

The state has recorded job growth in seven of the past 12 months and has added 95,900 jobs since January 2010, when job growth returned after 23 straight months of decline, the state said.

The biggest job losses month-over-month were in construction, down 4,300 jobs; financial activities, down 1,600; and trade, transportation and utilities, down 1,300.

Manufacturing gained 2,200 jobs from November, and other services added 1,200.

The biggest job losses since December 2010 were in government, down 8,900; information, down 3,700; and financial activities, down 3,100.

The biggest gains year-over-year were in professional and business services, up 20,400 and educational and health services, up 16,700.