Springfield, Sangamon County unemployment rates down, worker pay increases

Royale Bonds, State Journal-Register
·2 min read
Ryan McCrady, president and chief executive officer of the Springfield Sangamon County Growth Alliance.

More people are working in the Sangamon County and Springfield area than before the pandemic began, according to a new report.

At least 1,300 more people had jobs in May than in early 2020. The unemployment rate also was down 0.4 percent in May compared to May 2021. The findings are based on preliminary data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

"The response and engagement of the workforce will help support our current businesses and be an attractive element to businesses that are considering locating in central Illinois," Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance President and CEO Ryan McCrady said. "Having an available and well-trained workforce is the most important item for economic growth. Workforce trends like these set up our community for continued economic growth."

More: The Springfield job market is flooded with openings as positions go unfilled

Unemployment decreased from 5.1 percent in May 2021 to 4.7 percent in May 2022. The number of non-farming jobs available in the Springfield area has increased by 4,000 compared to 2021.

McCrady has previously said there are more jobs available than workers, citing the pandemic as one of the biggest contributors to the high number of vacancies.

Employers are paying more, according to the BLS and IDES report.

The average hourly wage for a private employer in the Springfield area has increased to about $30 per hour, up $5 per hour since early 2020 according to the BLS information.

"This report is a big deal to us because it shows our efforts are working,” said McCrady, whose public-private sector partnership is focused on advancing economic development in Springfield and Sangamon County.

Illinois State Fair looking for workers

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is in search of temporary workers for the Illinois State Fair. Seasonal employees are needed in maintenance, customer service, cashier, ticket sales, grandstand ticket takers, and security. The pay rate is $14 per hour.

Applications are being taken online only. Call IDOA Bureau of Human Resources at 217-785-4875 or email: AGR.SeasonalHR@illinois.gov.

Contact Royale Bonds: rbonds@gannett.com, twitter.com/@Royale59699722.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Springfield, Sangamon County jobless rate decreases, worker pay up