The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the state’s unemployment rate dropped slightly in August.
IDES officials say the unemployment rate decreased by 0.3 percent, to 5.5 percent. However, officials add that the decrease is largely due to “a decline in the labor force,” with the state still 46,400 jobs below its peak employment level in September 2000. Even with the decrease, Illinois’ unemployment rate is still higher than the national average, which sits at 4.9 percent. The number of employed residents also dropped during August, to 363,700.