Illinois jobless rate rises third straight month, falls from year ago
BY FRANCINE KNOWLES Business Reporter fknowles@suntimes.com September 20, 2012 12:22PM
Updated: October 22, 2012 6:20AM
The unemployment rate in Illinois climbed to 9.1 percent in August, up from 8.9 percent in July, marking the third straight month-over-month rise.
But the rate was down from 10.2 percent in August 2011, according to a report released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security Thursday.
The state added 9,600 jobs since July, an improvement from the 7,100 jobs lost month-over-month between July and June.
Since August 2011, the state has added 39,100 jobs.
The recent increases in the jobless rate follows last year’s trend of slower economic growth during the summer months, according to IDES Director Jay Rowell.
But he contended “Congressional inaction” is threatening the economic recovery.
“Waiting to the last minute to make serious decisions unnecessarily undermines consumer and business confidence and hinders economic growth,” he said in a statement.
The biggest job losses since July occurred in construction, down 1,500; trade transportation and utilities, down 1,000; and information, down 700.
The biggest job increases were in educational and health services, up 5,300; leisure and hospitality, up 3,500; and other services, up 1,800.
Year-over-year, the biggest job losses were in construction, down 11,500; government, down 11,200; and other services, down 9,100.
The biggest year-over-year job gains were in professional and business services, up 24,900; manufacturing, up 24,600; and leisure and hospitality, up 14,100.
