SPRINGFIELD – Several area locations have had a small increase in unemployment figures over the year from June 2022 to June 2023. Edwardsville has the lowest unemployment rate of 3.7 percent in regard to area cities, compared to 3.3 percent a year ago. Alton's unemployment rate stands at 6.2 percent compared to 5.5 percent a year ago, and Granite City has a 4.6 percent rate compared to 3.9 percent a year ago. Greene County has a 4.6 percent rate in June 2023. Calhoun is at 4.4 percent, while Jersey is lower at 4.2 percent, Madison County rests at 4.4 percent and Macoupin County is at 4.4 percent. The metro areas that had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Danville MSA (+3.3%, +900), the Peoria MSA (+2.7%, +4,600), and the Champaign-Urbana MSA (+2.6%, +2,900). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division were up +2.0% or +74,000. Industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included:
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