Local Unemployment Falls Slightly
By: Betsy Holzwarth
Updated: September 27, 2012
CENTRAL ILLINOIS - Local unemployment rates are declining slightly.
Peoria saw its unemployment rate drop from 8.1% in July to 8% in August.
Officials at the Illinois Department of Employment Security are more pleased with the gains the river city has made over the last year.
Since last August, the unemployment rate has fallen one percentage point and 4,200 jobs have been added, mostly in educational health services and government.
Meanwhile, in Bloomington-Normal, the unemployment rate dropped from 7.7% in July to 7.3% in August.
The twin cities has also seen a significant drop in its jobless rate over the year, falling .5%.
A total of 1,500 jobs have been added in the area, mostly in government and the hospitality industry.
