Magic Pot of Jobs

Between the national recession, issues with the financial industry, the housing market crisis and automakers laying off workers, finding jobs in Illinois (click here for more information) has been getting more and more over the last few months. According to the state Department of Employment Security, the unemployment rate rose 0.8 percent from January’s 7.8 percent to 8.6 percent in February. This is particularly significant when compared to the same month last year. During February of 2008, only 5.9 percent of the state’s population was without work. This is the highest joblessness has been in the state since December of 1991.

Data from the Department shows that approximately 37,200 people lost their jobs in Illinois during the month of February. After the addition of these new unemployment claimants, there are currently 570,100 people in the state who are without work, which is the most that Illinois has seen since November of 1983.

This figure does not include the people who are currently unemployed but have become discouraged and quit looking for work. When the economy takes a nosedive, it often takes job seekers longer to find work. After a certain point, many people begin to feel like they aren’t going to able to find new employment and stop searching. Once their unemployment benefits run out, they stop being counted in the data that is reported.

The Department found that, like many areas throughout the country, the manufacturing industry in Illinois saw the largest decrease in jobs. During February this sector lost 16,400 jobs. Another industry that didn’t fair well during the month was the professional and business sector, which did away with a total of 12,300 jobs.

During the last 12 months, the part of the state that lost the most jobs was the Chicago metropolitan area, where employers did away with a total of 126,400 positions between February of 2008 and 2009.

Maureen O’Donnell, the director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security, believes that it is time to take action so that the state’s economy doesn’t worsen.

“A national and local effort is needed to lift our country and our state from the depths of this recession,” said O’Donnell, according to Channel 13 CBS news Rockford. “Nationally, we are beginning to see the fruits of the stimulus package. Locally, a capital program would put Illinoisans back to work and inject money into our economy.”

In a recent press release from the Department, O’Donnell described what the IDES is currently doing to help the problem.

“A capital bill would help create jobs throughout the state. Until then, filing for unemployment insurance on-line, encouraging payments through direct deposits and expanding TeleServe hours to certify for benefits are positive steps the department has taken to better serve our customers.”

During February, the national unemployment rate rose to 8.1 percent, which is the highest its been in the last 25 years.