Bloomington-Normal’s workforce grew by more than 4,000 over the last year, according to data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).
The unemployment rate for the Twin Cities in May increased to 4.1%. That’s up from 3.8% in April, but it’s an improvement from the area’s 4.3% clip in May 2021.
The metro area labor force has grown to 92,900 workers, according to IDES — compared with 88,800 a year ago. The biggest jobs gains were in the Government (+1,100 jobs), Leisure and Hospitality (+1,100), and Professional-Business Services (+800) sectors.
The Twin City area saw a net loss of 300 jobs in financial activities over the last year.
Bloomington-Normal’s jobless rate is the second lowest in the state behind the Davenport (Iowa)-Moline-Rock Island market (3.8%). The statewide jobless rate is 4.5%.
The unemployment rate dropped in 11 metro areas in Illinois in May, stayed the same in Decatur and increased in Kankakee.
