Manufacturing weakness driving Illinois unemployment up; dropout and out-migration driving unemployment down.

Illinois’ preliminary jobs report shows the unemployment rate dropped to 5.8 percent in July due to large numbers of residents dropping out of the labor force for the third consecutive month.

The month of June saw Illinois continue to lose jobs, as the state’s long-term economic woes continue to push workers out of the state.

Illinois lost 2,200 jobs in June, and its unemployment rate dropped to 6.2 percent as more Illinoisans exited the labor force.

By linking unemployment payments with the requirement to submit a résumé, the Illinois Department of Employment Security is trying to connect unemployed people with employers faster, helping job seekers find employment, and saving taxpayers money.

Weak jobs numbers across the Midwest reflect the possibility of an oncoming economic slowdown. In fact, it would not be surprising to face a recession in the upcoming months, given that U.S. jobs growth has been weakening, and it has been seven years since the previous recession ended – a long period of expansion by historical norms.

Confidence in job opportunities declined in May, with a net loss of 9,100 people from the state’s workforce.

Monthly reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security allow the public to see Illinois’ record for job creation and unemployment. Understanding the components of the reports, what they measure, and the significance of the data are key to assessing the state’s economic health.