Unemployment up in southern Illinois | Business

Seasonal lay offs coupled with sizable facility closures increased joblessness at the beginning of 2013 in Southern Illinois. The data is not seasonally adjusted.

Of the counties in the 14 News viewing area, only Wabash County saw a drop in unemployment.

Retailers and restaurants reduced payrolls after the holiday season. Weather-related layoffs pressured the Construction and Recreation industries. Reductions in Mining and Government added to increased unemployment rates in southern Illinois. Employment gains were reported in Health Care Services, Financial Activities and Professional-Business Services.

Employment opportunities were available in Health Care and Medical Support, Sales, Food Service, Transportation, Office and Administrative Support and Computer Operations. A number of employment openings also occurred in Business and Finance, Engineering and Production Occupations.

The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. A person who exhausts benefits, or is ineligible, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.

Illinois has added +222,100 private sector jobs since January 2010 when job growth returned to Illinois following nearly two years of monthly declines. State data is seasonally adjusted. Since January 2010, leading growth sectors in Illinois are Professional and Business Services (+87,600); Educational and Health Services (+55,800) and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+43,000). Government has lost the most jobs since January 2010, down -26,300.

The IDES supports economic stability by administering unemployment benefits, collecting business contributions to fund those benefits, connecting employers with qualified job seekers, and providing economic information to assist career planning and economic development. It does so through nearly 45 offices, including Illinois workNet centers.

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