According to the most recent statistics from the U.S Department of Labor, unemployment in Illinois jumped from 6.8 percent in October to 7.3 percent in November. That’s 2 percent higher than the jobless rate the state experienced during the same month in 2007 and the highest unemployment has climbed since 1993. The national average was only 6.7 percent.
At the same time employers did away with approximately 23,000 jobs in Illinois, which is the greatest loss experienced since October of 2001. This was the sixth month in a row that businesses cut the number of people they employ in the state.
Area job losses only mirrored what has been happening across the country as part of the large scale recession going on. Throughout November, employers through out the nation cut somewhere around 533,000 jobs, which was the largest decrease to occur in the last 34 years.
The industry that experienced one of the greatest declines in employment opportunities was the manufacturing sector, where 6,000 Illinois jobs got the ax. This was the highest decrease this industry has had in more than seven years. Other sectors that posted a significant decline in jobs included the construction industry, which did away with 5,100 positions and trade, transportation and utilities where several hundred jobs were cut.
Not surprising was the fact that education and health services continued to add jobs in Illinois. Throughout the nation this industry has been one of the few shining areas of employment. Due, in part, to the fact that many of the services it provides are necessities, it has remained relatively recession proof. During November employers in this field created 1,600 new positions.
Over the course of the last 12 months, employers in the state have cut a grand total of approximately 47,300 jobs.