July unemployment continues trend of year-over-year improvements in Rockford metro area, Illinois

ROCKFORD, Aug. 27 — The Rockford metro area’s unemployment rate for July 2015 was 7.1 percent, down 1.3 percentage points from the same time a year ago and up 1 percentage point from the previous month. While total employment is flat, the total labor force is up 2,618, 705 of whom got jobs.

Continiuing the positive trend, July was the 17th month in a row that unemployment rates fell in every metro area in the state compared to a year ago, according to preliminary data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).

The last time the July rate was equal to or lower was in 2007 when it was 5.9 percent.

“The year-over-year statewide unemployment rate has declined from 7.3 percent to 5.9 percent and continues to fall in all metro areas,” IDES Director Jeff Mays said.

See the IDES news release page here.