Unemployment Drops, Payrolls Rise

Illinois’ job market showed improvement in July. The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the state unemployment rate fell to 4.9 percent, down two-tenths of a point from June’s revised rate of 5.1 percent. The figures are based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Illinois also reached a record high in total nonfarm payrolls, adding 11,700 jobs for a total of 6,176,400. The strongest monthly growth came in private education and health services, which gained 6,200 jobs. State officials say the numbers point to continued hiring momentum across key sectors.