Unemployment rate falls to record low in September

Illinois' unemployment rate fell to a record low in September, according to data released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

The state agency said Friday nonfarm payrolls increased by 4,800 jobs compared to last month, setting an unemployment rate of 3.9 percent in September. That figure surpassed the record low set in August by less than 1 percentage point, the agency said,

Illinois' unemployment rate is 0.4 percentage points higher than the national unemployment rate of 3.5 percent for September and down from a year ago, when it was 4.2 percent.

For the Chicago metropolitan area, adjusted state figures showed an unemployment rate at 3.6 percent, slightly below the state average. A total of 3.6 million people were employed in September, with 136,200 listed as unemployed.

Average payroll employment in Illinois from July to September, which the agency said provides a more stable measure of payroll employment change, was about unchanged, up 100 jobs. The largest average gains were found in trade, transportation and utilities at 1,400 jobs, government at 600 jobs, financial activities at 400 jobs, and educational and health services at 400 jobs.

The number of unemployed workers decreased to a record low from August, the agency noted, down 2.5 percent to 255,900, That number was also down 6.5 percent over September 2018. The labor force was about unchanged over-the-month but up less than 1 percentage point over the year. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and are seeking employment.