Evanston’s unemployment rate fell to 7.8 percent last month from 8.2 percent in July. But the jobless rate was still slightly higher than the 7.7 percent recorded a year earlier.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported today that the number of people with jobs in the Evanston declined to 39,254 in August from 39,443 in July, but the number of people looking for work dropped more — to 3,313 from 3,536.
The jobless rate for all of Illinois dropped to 9.9 percent in August from from 10.6 percent in July and 10.4 percent a year ago.
For the Chicago metro area, the unemployment rate fell to 9.8 in August to 10.5 percent in July. It had been 10.1 percent a year ago.
Of the nearly 100 communities in Illinois with more than 25,00 residents, 15 reported jobless rates in August lower than Evanston.
They were Mount Prospect and Oak Park at 7.7 percent, Downers Grove and Palatine at 7.5 percent, Carbondale, Naperville and Wheaton at 7.4 percent, Arlington Heights at 7.3 percent, Glen Ellyn at 7.1 percent, Elmhurst, Highland Park and Park Ridge at 7.0 percent, Northbrook at 6.9 percent, Glenview at 6.7 percent and Wilmette at 6.1 percent.
Shrinking labor force
Why is the labor force in Evanston said to be shrinking? Are people not looking for jobs because they feel hopeless? Are employable people moving out of Evanston because there are no jobs and the cost of living is out of control?Are there fewer employable people in Evanston because the demographics are older and people are retiring?
This does not bode well for Evanston.