State Unemployment Rate at 7.7% for January

The Illinois unemployment rate for January was at 7.7%, an improvement from an even 8.0% in December, while nonfarm payrolls were up 9,700 jobs.

In January, the three industry sectors with the largest over-the-month gains in employment were Professional and Business Services (11,500), Leisure and Hospitality (5,100) and Other Services (2,400). The industry sectors that reported the largest monthly payroll declines were Financial Activities (-6,400), Construction (-3,200) and Government (-1,800). 

The state's unemployment rate was 1.4% higher than the national unemployment rate for January of 6.3%. The Illinois unemployment rate for January was up 4.2% from a year ago, when it was 3.5%.