The unemployment rate is up from a year ago, but the number of jobs has increased according to data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. That was the story for July across the state and locally.

Vermilion County had the largest over the year percent increase in non-farm jobs in the state.  Jobs were up 2.6 percent, some 700 jobs. But at the same time, Vermilion County had the highest increase in the jobless rate, a 1.7 percent increase, with the July rate at 6.6 percent. In the city of Danville, unemployment stood at 8 percent, a hike from 5.8 percent last year.

In Champaign County, the rate is 5 percent, a one percent increase from 2022.  In the city of Urbana, the rate was 5.4 percent, up from 4.4 last year.  In the City of Champaign, the rate is 5.1 percent, compared to 4 percent last year.

Deputy Governor Andy Manar says the increase in jobs while unemployment goes up means there are expanded labor market opportunities.