THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FELL IN NEARLY ALL METRO AREAS OF ILLINOIS LAST MONTH COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR >>>

STATE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY SPOKESPERSON BOB GOUGH SAYS 2018 IS OFF TO A ROBUST START...WITH DECLINES IN THE JOBLESS RATE IN 13 OF THE 14 METRO AREAS IN FEBRUARY.

Kankakee County's rate dropped from 6.%% in February 2017 to 5.1% this last month. The Champaign County rate in Febriary was 3.7% compared to 4.8% in February of 2017. Champaign-Urbana shows 3.7% in February compared to 4.8% last year.

Iroquois County's uneployment was 4.5% in February compared to 6.3% a year ago.

Ford County was listed 4.4% last month. It was 6.1% a year earlier.

11 METRO AREAS POSTED OVER-THE-YEAR JOB GAINS...WITH CHICAGO AND THE SUBURBS, AS WELL AS ROCKFORD AND THE QUAD CITIES ENJOYING THE MOST GROWTH.

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