The Illinois Department of Employment Security says more people in the Springfield metro area are going back to work.
The unemployment rate last month was 7.4 percent, second lowest in the state. That’s compared to 7.9 percent at this time last year. Department spokesman Greg Rivara says that’s despite the continued decline of government jobs.
“That is a trend that’s been statewide for the past three, four, five years I believe now,” said Rivara. “We continue to see government as the job loss leader.”
Rivara says construction and hospitality jobs in the Springfield area increased.
He says these numbers don’t reflect people who were looking for jobs and gave up, thereby leaving the workforce.
“That has occurred in many states, that’s not the case in Illinois,” said Rivara. “In Illinois, more and more people are going into the labor force. They’re going into the workforce. So the unemployment rate is falling, even as more people are looking for work.”