Evanston’s jobless rate fell to 3.3 percent last month — its lowest level in more than six years.
Figures released today by the Illinois Department of Employment Security show the rate is down from 4.1 percent in February and 4.9 percent a year ago.
Joblessness for the Chicago metro area was also down dramatically, to 4.5 percent in March from 5.3 percent in February and 6.3 percent a year ago.
Statewide the jobless rate was 4.7 percent in March, down from 5.5 percent in February and 6.4 percent a year ago. The statewide rate was at its lowest level since 2007.
In Evanston last month 261 more people had jobs than did in February, but the number of people in the labor force declined by 26.
Fifteen of the 107 Illinois communities with more than 25,000 residents had jobless rates lower than Evanston’s in March. That’s down from 23 in February.
The state’s lowest jobless rate last month was 2.8 percent in Wilmette. Glenview was one of four towns tied at 3.0 percent. Arlington Heights was one of eight communities at 3.1 percent. Skokie was tied with Evanston and four other towns at 3.3 percent.
The IDES figures released today are not seasonally adjusted.
Jobs in Evanston or elsewhere [e.g. Chicago]
Did this survey or others list if those employed [and changes in employment] were people working in Evanston or if they have or got jobs outside of Evanston ? If so how many of jobs held by Evanston residents are in Chicago. If people work outside of Evanston, and esp. if those towns have places to eat [including company cafeteria] and are close to shopping they can do before returning home [clothes, books, small grocery, dentist, doctor, etc.] then those cities not Evanston get the probably not small revenue.
Jobs
The IDES report provides data about people based on where they live, not where they work.
Don’t hold me to it, but my recollection from other studies is that there are about as many jobs in Evanston as there are workers in Evanston — but many of the people who live here travel to jobs elsewhere and many of the workers employed here live elsewhere.
— Bill