Unemployment dropped sharply in the Quad Cities in April, falling from 5.3 per cent a year ago to 4.1 per cent last month.
Tom Austin from the Illinois Department of Employment Security says our area lost jobs in manufacturing, retail trade, and wholesale trade. But these losses were nearly offset by large gains in the category of Educational and Health Services.
"Most of your health and education sector is in health, so that's a positive sign in an industry that continues to grow in your area. And that industry offers employment opportunities at a variety of levels of education and skill levels. so that's a positive sign as we see that continue to grow."
The April unemployment rate of 4.1 per cent means 7,700 people were out of work and looking for jobs.
And it was the lowest April rate since 2007 when it fell to 3.9 per cent in the Quad Cities.
State officials say rates declined in most of Illinois' major metropolitan area last month, not because of a growing economy, but due to declines in the labor force - some people have given up looking for jobs, some have moved away or retired, while others have gone back to school to learn a new skill.
