Illinois’ employment recovery continued in March, but the state is still missing one in five jobs lost during the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic downturn and state restrictions.
Illinois added 18,300 jobs from mid-February through mid-March, marking the 10th consecutive month of job gains, but the state’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.8% – still the highest in the Midwest.
February job growth was also revised to show gains of 25,100, rather than the 19,600 originally estimated, according to new data released April 15 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Nearly all major industries experienced job gains during the month. The largest came from the professional and business services sector, which grew payrolls by 9,700 during the month.
Financial activities added 3,800 jobs; leisure and hospitality grew payrolls by 3,500; the information sector added 2,500 positions; educational and health services accumulated an additional 2,000 jobs; manufacturing added 1,000 jobs; construction gained 400 jobs; and government payrolls expanded by 200.
There were several industries that shed jobs during the month. Mining lost 100 jobs; other services payrolls declined by 1,200; and trade, transportation and utilities lost 3,500 jobs during March.
The large job losses in the trade, transportation and utilities sector come on the heels of last month’s jobs report, which estimated the industry experienced the most j …