Unemployment fell again in the Quad Cities in March. The rate dropped from 4.9 per cent a year ago to 4.2 per cent last month.
Tom Austin from the Illinois Department of Employment Security says this is the lowest March unemployment in the Quad Cities since 2,000 when it also came in at 4.2 per cent. And the credit goes to job gains in professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, and manufacturing.
"We've been seeing manufacturing expand in the last few months and that's a positive sign. And that also adds into why we're seeing some gains in professional and business services which also feeds into the manufacturing sector. "
But there were also some job losses here - in construction, retail, and education and health services.
The rate of 4.2 per cent means during March an estimated 8,100 people were unemployed - that is out of work and looking for a new job.
Unemployment rates fell across Illinois last month, with the highest rate in Danville at 5.8 per cent, and the lowest rate at 3.8 per cent in both Champaign and Bloomington.