CHICAGO (Nov. 20, 2015) – Today, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics released complete unemployment and economic performance numbers for the states. The data show Illinois adding 14,100 payroll jobs on net in October, bringing Illinois’ total job growth to 20,200 new jobs in 2015. Illinois’ manufacturing sector – a key benchmark for middle class economic growth – lost 1,900 jobs in October. Illinois has lost 14,100 manufacturing jobs in 2015 alone, and Illinois has the highest manufacturing job loss in the region for the month of October and the year overall.

“Today’s report shows solid jobs growth for the first time in months, putting Illinois on pace with its neighbor states in overall job growth. Although it’s only one month, this is a positive sign for the state that has had the slowest recovery from the Great Recession in the country.” said Michael Lucci, vice president of policy at the Illinois Policy Institute. “However, Illinois’ manufacturing and blue-collar industries are continuing to fall dangerously behind it’s neighbors. Illinois’ inability to keep manufacturers in our state is devastating areas around Illinois where families rely on these blue-collar jobs to survive. It is always a positive sign to see job growth in the state, but Illinois lawmakers should be looking at what policies can improve jobs across the economic spectrum, not just for white-collar service jobs.”

Highlights from today’s report include:

• Overall job growth for Great Lakes states for the month and year includes:
  • Illinois gained 14,100 jobs this month, has gained 20,200 jobs this year.
  • Indiana lost 3,400 jobs this month, has gained 45,100 jobs this year.
  • Michigan gained 13,600 jobs this month, has gained 59,300 jobs this year.
  • Ohio gained 30,800 jobs this month, has gained 58,400 jobs this year.
  • Wisconsin gained 16,100 jobs this month, has gained 36,900 jobs this year.

• Manufacturing job growth for Great Lakes states for the month and year includes:
  • Illinois lost 1,900 manufacturing jobs this month, has lost 14,100 manufacturing jobs this year.
  • Indiana gained 5,400 manufacturing jobs this month, has gained 10,900 manufacturing jobs this year.
  • Michigan lost 1,800 manufacturing jobs this month, has gained 17,100 manufacturing jobs this year.
  • Ohio gained 5,800 manufacturing jobs this month, has gained 13,500 manufacturing jobs this year.
  • Wisconsin gained 2,500 manufacturing jobs this month, has gained 3,700 manufacturing jobs this year.

• Illinois’ workforce grew by 19,700 people in October. The state’s unemployment rate remained at 5.4 percent for October.

• Illinois has lost manufacturing jobs nine of the ten months in 2015 and has lost the most manufacturing jobs in 2015 of any Midwest state.

• Illinois still has 67,000 fewer jobs than it did at the beginning of the Great Recession in 2008. This represents the worst economic recovery of any state in the country.

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