Unemployment in the Peoria metropolitan area spiked in January. That's according to the latest data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The 6.2% rate was higher than the 4.8% reported in December. Unemployment was 5.4% in January 2023. Year over year, the Peoria area added 1,400 jobs. The largest job gains were in government and educational and health services. Professional and business services took the biggest hit.
All fourteen metropolitan areas in Illinois saw year-over-year unemployment increases. Kankakee is highest at 7.5%, while Bloomington-Normal's 4.4% rate is the lowest statewide. The statewide unemployment rate of 5.1% was considerably higher than the nationwide 3.7% rate.
Woodford County's 5% unemployment rate is the lowest in the Peoria metropolitan area. Stark County's 7.7% is the highest.
