While a majority of Illinois’ metro areas experienced expanding payrolls in September, metro areas only gained 800 jobs on net.

While a majority of Illinois metro areas experienced expanding payrolls in June, the state still lags the nation in post-recession jobs growth.

New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show eight of Illinois’ 13 metro areas gained jobs over the month.

When people can’t find good job opportunities in Illinois, they are too often forced to leave. And to take their place, too few have enough confidence in the state to move in from elsewhere and build a future.

In a shrinking state, half of Illinois’ largest cities have shed population since 2010.