County unemployment is down

(Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

Over-the-year unemployment has once again fallen in Livingston County.

According to information released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security, the county’s rate was at 9.5 percent in February, which is down from 13.2 percent in February 2010.  Also, in Bloomington-Normal, the non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 7.4 percent in February, down from 9.1 percent the previous year.

Total payroll jobs increased in nine metro areas, decreased in one and were flat in two.  IDES Director Maureen O’Donnell says the record-setting declines in the unemployment rate shares the story of a growing Illinois economy as much as it reflects the depth of the national recession.