Unemployment rates show improvement over December 2013

In a year’s time the local unemployment rates have dropped nearly four percent. The Illinois Department of Employment Security Thursday released December’s unemployment numbers.

December unemployment in La Salle County was 7.8 percent, down from 11.5 percent in December 2013.

In Bureau County, unemployment was to 7.4 percent, down more than three percent from last December.

Putnam County unemployment declined by four points from December 2013 to 7.1 percent last month.

The Ottawa-Streator area unemployment went from 11.1 percent in December 2013 to 7.7 percent in December 2014.

The area saw new construction jobs, but loss jobs in government, manufacturing, and information.

Area unemployment rates continue to decline

Fewer people are relying on unemployment in the Illinois Valley when compared to last year.

La Salle County unemployment was 7.9 percent last month, a nearly three-percent improvement from November 2013. Bureau County’s November unemployment rate was 7.2 percent, a two percent decline from the same time last year.

Putnam County unemployment in November was 7.1 percent, a three-percent improvement from the same time last year.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the Ottawa-Streator Area unemployment rate improved from 10.6 percent in November 2013 to 7.7 percent this November. Jobs were gained in transportation-warehousing and professional-business services.

Unemployment numbers continued to improve in September

Gasoline prices aren’t the only numbers declining. Local unemployment figures continue to improve. The Ottawa-Streator Area September unemployment rate was 7.6%, down more than three percent from last September.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the last time the unemployment rate was lower was in 2008. Jobs were added in professional-business services and transportation-warehousing. Jobs were lost in manufacturing.

La Salle County’s September unemployment rate was 7.6%, down three percent from last September.

In Bureau County, unemployment improved to 7.7%, down from 8.6% and Putnam County was at 7.3%, down from 9.7%.

 

Area unemployment rates show declines

An 8.8 percent unemployment rate is high, but it is an improvement over the same time last year. The Illinois Department of Employment Security says La Salle County’s August 2014 unemployment was 8.8 percent, down from 11.1 percent last August.

Putnam County’s unemployment rate also declined from 9.7 percent to 7.8 percent last month. The decline in Bureau County was slight, going from 9.2 percent in August 2013 to 8.9 percent this August.

For the Ottawa-Streator Area, gains were made in the transportation-warehousing-Utilities sector but jobs were lost in the manufacturing and government sectors.

Declines continue in local unemployment rates

Local unemployment rates continue to show improvement. La Salle County’s June unemployment rate was 8.7%, 2.5 points lower than last June.

La Salle County wasn’t alone. Bureau County unemployment improved from 8.9% last June to 7.4% this June. Putnam County experienced a 2.8% decline with June’s rate at 7.5%.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security says in the Ottawa-Streator area‘s June unemployment rate was 8.4%. The last time it was that low or lower was in 2008.