The Illinois Department of Employment Security says jobs are being added across the state, and for the most part, unemployment rates are starting to move downward.
That includes what they define as the Galesburg area. The area’s unemployment average for August, according to data they supplied from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, is at 5.5 percent — down five-tenths from August of 2023. That is the same figure for the whole State of Illinois.
In the City of Galesburg proper, the unemployment rate dropped six tenths to an even six percent.
Warren County’s dropped slightly, one tenth, to 4.9 percent.
“Stable, consistent job growth across the state continues to position jobseekers and employers to leverage new and developing opportunities,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar, in a news release. “IDES and its essential workforce partners are working throughout the state to offer critical employment services to enthusiastic jobseekers.”
Data indicates, however, that the number of people in the labor force, and the number of employed, are lower. But, in this area, the number of unemployed is also lower.
The state says the Galesburg area saw 225 more jobs in the year over year period. Gains in a number of sectors were offset somewhat by declines in Leisure-Hospitality, Financial Activities, and Manufacturing.
One of the regions in the state that saw job losses, but also declines in unemployment, was the Peoria area.
One area county saw an unemployment increase. Mercer County’s jobless average went up seven tenths, to five point one percent. The Quad Cities area also had an unemployment rate increase, moving from 4.4 percent in August 2023, to 4.9% in August 2024.
August 2024 unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.
