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During February, Illinois construction jobs saw the biggest over-the-year decrease compared to other declining industries.

Illinois' construction industry employed 235,200 workers during February, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 235,500 workers during January and a 10.9 percent decrease from last year.

The state's construction industry has seen an over-the-year jobs decrease every month for the last six months, by 4.5 percent during September 2008, by 5.5 percent during October 2008, by 7.7 percent during November 2008, by 11.7 percent during December 2008, by 11.5 percent during January and by 10.9 percent during February.

Other industries that saw an over-the-year jobs decrease during February include:

• manufacturing by 7.8 percent
• trade transportation and utilities by 3.2 percent
• information by 4 percent
• financial activities by 3.2 percent
• professional and business services by 6.8 percent
• leisure and hospitality by 3.6 percent
• other services by 1.1 percent
• government by .1 percent

The only industries that saw an over-the-year jobs increase during February were mining and logging and education and health services. The mining and logging industry employed 10,200 workers, down from 10,300 workers during January, but a 3 percent increase from last year. The education and health services industry employed 804,200 workers, up from 803,500 workers during January and a 1.6 percent increase from last year.

Illinois' unemployment rate increased from 7.8 percent to 8.6 percent during February. The state had a total non-farm employment of 5,782,700 workers, down from 5,819,900 workers during January and a 3.4 percent decrease from last year.

Labels: Illinois construction jobs