Greater Peoria began the year with a higher unemployment rate despite overall job growth.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security’s January jobs report shows the metropolitan area’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 6.7 percent. That’s up nearly a full percentage point from the same month in 2018. Unemployment within the city of Peoria is 7.0 percent.
The January numbers show 4400 jobs were added in the Peoria metropolitan area. Job gains were noted in business and professional services, manufacturing, education and health services, transportation, and construction. Retail trade and financial services posted declining employment figures.
The current statewide, non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 5.3 percent.
The Peoria metropolitan area is one of 13 across Illinois that reported higher unemployment at the start of 2019.
