Labor market report | News

Labor market conditions were stable in early summer 2012 throughout southern Illinois according to the latest report from the Department of Employment Services.  Substantial building projects continued on schools, medical facilities, and highways. Seasonal payroll gains occurred in Retail Trade and Leisure-Hospitality. Employment increases were reported in Health Care Services, Transportation, and Mining.

The new unemployment numbers for June, however, showed more people out of work.

White County's rate climbed 1.6% to 8.3%; Wabash County is up 1.7% to 9.2%.  Gallatin County increase 1.5% to 9.2%. Hamilton County jumped 1.6% to 8.6%, Saline County has the highest rate--up 1.8% to 9.6%. Edwards County rose 1.4% to 8.4% and Wayne County ticked up 1.1% to 8.7%.

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 +140,700 private sector jobs since January 2010 when job growth returned to Illinois following nearly two years of declines. The data is seasonally adjusted. Since January 2010, leading growth sectors in Illinois are Professional and Business Services (+74,600); Manufacturing (+42,900) and Educational and Health Services (+31,800). Government has lost the most jobs since January 2010, down -27,500.