For three consecutive months, Illinois has faced a shrinking workforce through significant job losses. Although the national unemployment rate had increased in August to 6.1%, Illinois is still well above that number at 7.3% unemployment. A pattern of actual job cuts ? as opposed to just slower growth ? has lead to a 2.1% increase in the state?s unemployment level in just one year. The ?trade, transportation? sector has fared the worst, though even government jobs have dropped off too.
See "Illinois unemployment still rising, now at 7.3%", James P. Miller, Chicago Tribune, September 17, 2008