Illinois unemployment stalls at 9.5 percent

The Illinois Department of Employment Security announced today that the Illinois unemployment rate remained at 9.5 percent in March. Three months ago it was 8.6 percent.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security announced today that the Illinois unemployment rate remained at 9.5 percent in March. Three months ago it was 8.6 percent. During the same three-month period the nation?s unemployment rate has steadily decreased to 7.6 percent, nearly two percentage points lower than Illinois.

In March the Prairie State lost 17,800 jobs. Illinois had the second-largest decrease in employment in the nation last month, according to the Labor Department.

On net, the state has added 3,300 jobs in 2013.