The Illinois Department of Employment Security has released employment information for Illinois for the month of August. It shows that the state’s unemployment rate was 4.7 percent, down two tenths of a percent from July, and up four tenths of a percent from the same time a year ago, according to data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The revised unemployment rate for the month of July came in at 4.9 percent.
The report said the number of unemployed persons in August was 306,800, down 2.8 percent from July, and up 8.1 percent from the same time a month ago. The IDES said compared to a year ago, total nonfarm payroll jobs were up over 15,000 jobs. Construction and Private Education and Health Services recorded the highest job increases.