Peoria area unemployment decreased in February, though it's still trending higher than the state as a whole.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said the unemployment rate was 5.8% last month. That's a bit higher than the 5.5% rate at the same time last year, but lower than the 6.2% rate in January.
The statewide unemployment rate is 5.3%.
Year-over-year, the Peoria metro saw the biggest job gains in the government sector, and biggest losses in professional and business services. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 1,200 jobs.
Bloomington has the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 4.3%, while Kankakee and Rockford are tied for the highest at 6.8%.
