The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Illinois Department of Employment Security have released new data highlighting job growth and changes in unemployment across different metro areas of Illinois over the past year. Nonfarm jobs in the state rose by approximately 15,000 from March 2023 to March 2024. Conversely, unemployment also saw a spike of 0.7 percentage points.

Decatur and Rockford were the two metro areas that reported a drop in unemployment. Decatur’s unemployment dipped from 6.4% in March 2023 to 6.2% in March 2024, while Rockford’s fell from 7.2% to 6.7%. Interestingly, Danville was the only metro area that maintained its unemployment rate, staying steady at 5.7%. All other metro areas saw an increase in unemployment, with spikes of up to 0.8 percentage points.

In terms of nonfarm jobs, Elgin reported the largest surge among the 14 metro areas, adding 4,100 jobs. Champaign-Urbana topped Central Illinois with an addition of 2,700 jobs, a state high rise of 2.2%. Both Springfield and Chicago saw the most significant decrease in the region and state, losing 4,400 jobs each; this represents a state high loss of 4.4%.

“Job growth continues to reach areas in every corner of the state throughout industries, creating new and expanded job opportunities for Illinois workers, commented Deputy Governor Andy Manar. In line with this, he added that IDES and its workforce partners are committed and prepared to help jobseekers find suitable employment opportunities that match their career goals.

In contrast, residents of California who are seeking unemployment benefits can reach out to the Employment Development Department (EDD) for assistance. To get a hold of EDD, the recommended method is to visit eddcaller.com. Detailed resources pertaining to unemployment benefits, Paid Family Leave (PFL), and State Disability Insurance (SDI) programs can be found here. Additionally, eddcaller.com provides reliable contact information, assisting users in reaching a live person at EDD for effective resolution of their queries.