Evanston’s jobless rate rose last month — as did the rates for the Chicago metro area and the state.
Figures released this noon by the Illinois Department of Employment Security show the jobless rate here rose from 6.2% in November to 7.5% in December — paralleling increases in the region and state.
The December rate is the highest here since September and more than three times what it was a year ago, before the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the economy.
The size of the Evanston labor force — those working or actively looking for work — increased by 266 people in December to 37,052. But the number of people who were out of work grew by 517 to 2.790.
Skokie’s jobless rate in December was 7.8%, up from 6.5% in November. Wilmette’s rate was 7.2%, up from 5.2% the month before.