The Peoria area economy has only added back about half the jobs it lost over the spring when the pandemic hit, new state data show.
The Peoria abruptly shed 24,700 jobs between February and April due to COVID-19. As of September, Peoria was still down 12,200 jobs from that February tally, and it was down 17,900 jobs from this time a year ago, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The largest declines were in the Leisure-Hospitality (-8,500 jobs), Government (-2,500), and Professional & Business Services (-2,400) sectors.
Peoria was one of four metro areas in Illinois that set a new record low for September payrolls.
The Peoria area’s jobless rate was 8.5% in September, down from the month before, but still double what it was a year ago, IDES reported. The statewide rate is 9.8%, and 7.7% nationally.
Meanwhile, the number of people from Peoria seeking jobless benefits for the first time increased by about 3% in September, after declining for four straight months. The monthly total for those seeking jobless benefits peaked in April, with a record 13,946, IDES reported. It was 2,905 in September.
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