More than 3,400 people were looking for work in Evanston in January as the unemployment rate rose 0.6 percent to 8.2 percent.
The increase in joblessness for the month was largely a reflection of people who had stopped looking for work in December resuming their job search after the holidays.
More than 3,400 people were looking for work in Evanston in January as the unemployment rate rose 0.6 percent to 8.2 percent.
The increase in joblessness for the month was largely a reflection of people who had stopped looking for work in December resuming their job search after the holidays.
Evanston’s jobless rate remains among the lowest in the state. For the nearly 100 communities with more than 25,000 residents, only 11 reported jobless rates in January lower than Evanston.
For the Chicago metro area as a whole, the jobless picture in January was grim, rising a full percentage point to 11.6 percent — the highest level in almost 27 years.
That’s higher than the national jobless rate of 10.6 percent.
A year ago Evanston’s jobless rate stood at 5.6 percent.
Illinois towns with lower unemployment rates than Evanston in January were Arlington Heights, Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Highland Park and Park Ridge at 8.1 percent, Carbondale and Wheaton at 8 percent, Glenview and Oak Park at 7.8 percent, Northbrook at 7.2 percent and Wilmette at 6.8 percent. Naperville was tied with Evanston at 8.2 percent.