New numbers from the Illinois Department of Employment Security show jobless rates fell across East Central Illinois during February. The unemployment rates improved in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas compared to one year ago. But the numbers reflect jobless rates right before the massive lay-offs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report shows Vermilion County’s unemployment rate was 4.1 percent of the workforce in February, down from 4.9 percent in January. Danville’s jobless rate fell from 4.9 to 4.3 percent.
The unemployment rate in Edgar County fell from 4.0 to 3.3 percent, and in Iroquois County the jobless rate fell from 5.0 to 4.2 percent in February.
Vermilion County’s 4.1 percent unemployment rate in February compared to 5.9 percent a year ago. The report says Vermilion County gained 100 manufacturing jobs over the year, however the Construction…Educational-Health Services…and Other Services categories each showed a loss of 100 jobs compared to year-ago levels in Vermilion County.
Again, the improving jobs figures, though, occurred right before some massive lay-offs in our region because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
