May 19, 2008

The seasonally adjusted Illinois unemployment rate dropped -0.1 point to 5.4% in April, its lowest level this year, according to data released by the U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).

The number of payroll jobs remained essentially unchanged from March to April, down just 500 or less than one one-hundredth of a percent.

Nationally, employers cut another 20,000 jobs in April, bringing the total job loss so far this year to -260,000. In contrast, payrolls in Illinois have expanded by +9,300 jobs since January.

Illinois continues to lead all Midwestern states in job growth since January 2004 with 193,400 new jobs. Over the year, Illinois employers added 20,900 new jobs (April 2008 compared to 2007).