The adjusted unemployment rate for the U.S.in March was 5.0 percent and for the state, 5.4 percent.
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Meanwhile, employment growth saw an uptick of 0.4 percent, or 3,000 jobs, compared to the same month a year ago, the largest gain since September, according to the state Department of Workforce Solutions.
Over-the-year employment growth reached 2.8 percent in March, which surpassed the national growth rate of two percent.
“Unemployment in Illinois continues to rise as our state fails to keep pace with the rest of the country in job growth”, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Sean McCarthy said in a statement.
Illinois’ unemployment rate edged up again in March as the state added jobs but not enough to keep pace with the number of people looking for work.
In the past year, the county added 6,600 jobs, including 1,900 in leisure and hospitality, and 1,600 each in private education and health services and in professional and business services. The sector was up 4.5% year-over-year. The gains included 500 jobs in manufacturing, 400 in health care and social assistance and 300 in local school districts and state colleges.
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Six major industries reported overall increases in employment, and four reported decreases last month. “If they see a candidate they like, they have to pounce, because that candidate will likely have two or three other job offers in hand and will only take a day or two to decide”.
