Unemployment numbers continue to rise in Illinois

By Ryne Turke on April 3, 2016 at 7:01am

Unemployment numbers for the month of February are coming in from the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

Looking specifically at the four-county-area, Morgan County’s over-the-year change increased from 8.2 percent to 9.7 percent, Greene County rose from 6.7 percent to 7.7 percent, Cass County jumped from 6.3 percent to 7.1 percent and Scott County went from 7.5 percent in 2015 to 8.4 percent this year.

IDES reports the Springfield area’s non-farm job total increased by 1,400 compared to a year ago. Job gains were seen mostly in Health Care and Social Assistance, Professional and Business Services, Leisure and Hospitality, Wholesale Trade and Government.

Losses were reported in Retail Trade, Financial Activities and Manufacturing.