State adds 5,200 jobs in December

CHICAGO -- Illinois employers added 5,200 new jobs during December, the highest over-the-month job gain since June, according to data released this week by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Total non-farm jobs in December were 5,991,400, compared to 5,986,200 the month before. The state's unemployment rate during December was 5.5 percent, compared to 5 percent nationwide.