U.S. Unemployment Rate Falling, But Illinois Still Lagging Far Behind
Do the latest unemployment numbers indicate an economy in recovery?
The government announced Friday that the U.S. unemployment rate hit a four-year low, and now sits at 7.7 percent. That’s down from 7.9 percent in January.
Sounds like good news, right? While employers did add about 260,000 jobs in February, the lower rate is also due in part to another 130,000 people leaving the job market entirely, the government reported.
Meanwhile, in Illinois the unemployment rate jumped to 9 percent in January from its previous 8.7 percent in December, according to a report in Crain’s Chicago Business.
Some economist report that the country, if not Illinois, is on the road the economic recovery, but others say tough times are far from behind us.
What do you think? Is the economy recovering? And how do you feel about Illinois’ prospects at finding its employment footing?
Have your say in the comments below.
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Kerry
10:49 am on Sunday, March 10, 2013
The unemployment numbers are misleading as they are based on those collecting unemployment compensation.
J D McNugent
1:30 pm on Sunday, March 10, 2013
I agree with Kerry. many thousands of American's fall off the dolls every month and are no longer counted in the unemployment rate. Not to mention how many Americans are Underemployed. Obama has done very little to address this epidemic.