State Jobless Rate Back to Pre-Pandemic Level

The Illinois jobless rate for June stood at 4.5%. That's the lowest rate since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 18,800 in June.

The industry sectors with the largest over the month gains in employment included Leisure and Hospitality, Professional and Business Services, Construction, and Educational and Health Services.

The industry sectors that reported monthly payroll declines included Financial Activities and Other Services.

The state's unemployment rate was 0.9% higher than the national unemployment rate reported for June, which was 3.6%, unchanged from the previous month. The Illinois unemployment rate was down 2% from a year ago when it was at 6.5%.