SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State officials say the good news is, there’s more jobs to be had in the Peoria area compared to this time last year.
The bad news, state officials say, there’s also more people unemployed.
Federal data provided through the Illinois Department of Employment Security indicates the City of Peoria’s unemployment rate for August was 6.8 percent in August – an increase of 1.7 percentage points.
For the entire Peoria Metropolitan Statistical Area, the unemployment rate increased 1.5 points, to 5.8 percent.
The Pekin, Peoria County, Tazewell County, and Woodford County jobless averages also increased – same as virtually every other portion of the state.
The number of jobs in the Peoria metro area also went up – with gains in educational and health services, more than offsetting losses in manufacturing and financial activities.
Illinois Deputy Governor Andy Manar, though, says the job growth means continued boosts to the state’s economy.
“A growing labor market and newly created jobs are giving workers and jobseekers the opportunity to reenter the workforce and pivot career choices that better suit the talent and diversity of the state workforce,” said Manar, in a news release.
