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Unemployment Rate Remains Above National Average in All but Two Metro Areas - Job Growth Remains Mixed in the Metro Areas

​9/22/16 - Again this month, twelve of Illinois’ metropolitan (metro) areas experienced decreases in their over-the-year unemployment rate and eight of the metro areas had increases in nonfarm jobs, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and IDES.

“Job growth is primarily confined to metro areas north of the I-80 corridor and even though it is growth, it is anemic growth when compared to other major metro areas across the country such as New York, Los Angeles and Dallas,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “And many of the Downstate metros still haven’t fully recovered from the recession.”
 
Employment and Economic Opportunity for People with Disabilities September Meeting Agend

This agenda conforms to the requirements of Section 2.02 of the Illinois Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/02).  Any individual planning to attend who will need an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act should notify Caroline Alamillo at (312) 793-9290 or (888) 340-1007 (TTY/NextTalk).

Labor Force Declines Fourth Straight Month - Unemployment rate declines to 5.5%

​9/15/16 - IDES announced today that the unemployment rate in August decreased -0.3 percentage points to 5.5 percent and nonfarm payrolls decreased, based on preliminary data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and IDES. The decrease in Illinois’ unemployment rate is largely due to a decline in the labor force. Job growth is still below the national average, with Illinois -46,400 jobs short of its peak employment level reached in September 2000.

“In this 30-day snapshot, manufacturing losses were heavy, which contributed to more than half of the month’s decrease in nonfarm payroll jobs,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays.​ 

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Director Mays Highlights Benefits of Employment Service Registration Requirements

 


7/29/16 - Director Mays discussed the employment service registration requirement at a press conference in Springfield on July 12 to help get the word out about IDES’ enhanced efforts to help jobseekers find work more quickly.

Watch the video presentation 

New Debit Cards are now being used.  Is your address up-to-date?  Sign in to make sure.

7/29/16 - Benefit payments to those using debit cards are now made on the blue IDES MasterCard from KeyBank. To avoid payment interruptions, please make sure your address is up to date. To update your address, sign in or call (800) 244-5631​.​ Questions and Answers about the new debit card program.