New unemployment figures are out and the numbers are up across East Central Illinois. Vermilion County’s jobless rate rose from 5.1 percent in May to 6.0 percent in June. Danville’s June unemployment rate of 6.9 percent is up from 5.7 during May.
Other areas of our region also saw higher unemployment during June. In the Champaign-Urbana Metropolitan Statistical Area the jobless rate rose by one-percent to 4.7 percent. Edgar County saw its rate climb from 3.4 percent unemployed during May to 4.6 percent in June. And in Iroquois County, the June rate of 3.8 percent is up from 3.2 percent in May.
Jeff Mays is Director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security. He says higher unemployment rates are largely due to an increase in the overall labor force brought on by renewed confidence in the local economy. ‘’Many people that were unemployed are now out looking for work as more jobs are available,’’ said Mays.
Vermilion County’s June 2018 unemployment rate of 6.0 percent is down from 6.3 percent in June of last year. According to the new report Vermilion County gained 100 Manufacturing jobs over the year, along with gains of 100 jobs each in the Education and Health Services…and Leisure and Hospitality categories since June of last year.
But the county lost 200 Government jobs, and 100 jobs in each of the categories of Information….Financial Activities….and Professional and Business Services.
In the Champaign-Urbana Metropolitan Statistical Area, non-farm employment increased by 2,200 from its level one year ago, according to the report.
And the report adds area employers advertised for 4,700 positions in June, and approximately 84 percent sought full-time employment. The numbers are from Help Wanted OnLine data compiled by the Conference Board – a global, independent business membership and research association.
