Peoria Unemployment Down

Peoria, IL (September 24, 2009) – Unemployment numbers released today show the Peoria Area had the largest drop in unemployment in the state. The metropolitan area unemployment level is 10.9% for the month of august compared to 12.3% for July. That is a 1.4% decrease in the number of unemployed for the Peoria area.

The state of Illinois unemployment rate is 9.9% for august compared to 10.5% in July and the national unemployment rate is 9.6% compared to 9.7% in July.

Jim McConoughey, President/CEO of The Heartland Partnership says “We knew the numbers were going to spike in July because there were thousands of employees taking furloughs or in the midst of rolling layoffs that month. We expected those numbers to go back down in August, and they did. While this is good news, it does not mean we are out of the recession. It means we are starting to see signs of strength and growth which are very positive factors for recovery.”