Republicans have criticized Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich for subpar job growth during his administration, with Illinois lagging behind the national average (along with many Midwestern states, particularly those that have (or had) a large manufacturing base). Finally, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security, the state is starting to pick up in job growth compared to the nation, with Illinois’ new job rate exceeding the U.S. rate in three of the last four months.
While this is good news, the state unemployment rate still lags the national rate by a full percentage point in June 2005. In 2005 the state has bettered it’s own unemployment rate each month, year-over-year with 2004 (seasonally adjusted rates), but we still have a way to go. The latest monthly job growth (seasonally adjusted) in June has been in Professional and Business Services (0.6%), which gained 4,700 jobs; Financial Activities (0.5%), which grew by 1,900 jobs; Other Services (0.5%), which gained 1,200 jobs; Manufacturing (0.2%), which picked up 1,600 jobs; and Education and Health (0.2%), which grew by 1,500 positions. All told these sectors enjoyed a total increase of 10,900 jobs. Information, Construction, Leisure and Hospitality, and Government sectors all had monthly losses (ranging from 0.1% - 0.3%), which totaled 3,300 jobs.
Post a Comment