Lake County Gazette

Rep. Chris Bos voiced his concerns about Illinois’ unemployment rate.

“Illinois' unemployment rate fell to 4.5% in June, but remains higher than the national average,” Bos wrote on Facebook. “Our state continues to lag behind the rest of the country as we work to recover from the pandemic.”

The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported the drop is the lowest the rate has been since entering the COVID-19 pandemic.

Illinois' unemployment rate fell to 4.5% in June, which is the lowest it has been since the onset of the pandemic, but still the fifth highest in the country, Capitol News Illinois reported. Illinois lags behind the national average unemployment rate and that of neighboring states, as Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin's unemployment rates have all fallen to below 3%.

Illinois’ unemployment rate was the lowest it had ever been before the pandemic, standing at 3.5% in December 2019. The state's unemployment rate soared to 17.4% in April 2020, after “nonessential” businesses such as restaurants and theaters were forced to close.

Lake County’s unemployment rate is also 4.5% as of May, with more than 16,000 people reportedly out of work. The figure is a significant decrease from the county's record-high unemployment rate of 14.7% in April 2020.

Lake County’s unemployment rate is slightly better than that of some nearby counties, such as Kane (5.1%), Cook (4.6%), and DeKalb (5%).

KPVI reported a report by Lensa, who helps people find a job, showing Illinois’ unemployment rate will rise by 5% by 2027.

“Illinois’ economy continues on a positive trajectory,” Deputy Gov. Andy Manar said in an April press release.  "We stand ready to support job seekers and employers with innovative resources to connect across the state.”