CHICAGO — Unemployment across Central Illinois from August 2018 to August 2019 dropped around a full percentage point.
A report released Thursday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the jobless rate over that yearlong period fell in all 14 metro areas across the state.
Peoria’s job gains came in wholesale trade, government, construction, and in the transportation, warehousing and utilities sector.
Losses were reported in retail trade, educational and health services, manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, and professional and business services.
County-by-county numbers showed unemployment dropped in Peoria from 5.5% in 2018 to 4.7% in 2019, in Tazewell from 4.8% to 4.0%, in Woodford from 4.0% to 3.4%, in Stark from 5.8% to 4.9%, in Marshall from 4.9% to 3.9%, in Putnam from 4.9% to 3.9%, in Knox from 5.3% to 4.4%, in Fulton from 6.1% to 5.0%, and in Mason from 6.2% to 5.0%.
BLS estimated 7,700 people in the Peoria Metropolitan Statistical Area were a part of August 2019’s unemployment rate.
