Schools out, and Evanston jobless rate soars

Evanston's unemployment rate jumped to its highest level of the year in June.

The June number was 7.6 percent, up from 6.3 percent in May, and the highest since the city recorded a 7.7 percent jobless rate last September. A year ago the Evanston jobless rate stood at 8.2 percent.

The rate for the Illinois portion of the Chicago metro area also rose, from 8.6 percent in May to 9.4 percent in June. A year ago the metro area rate stood at 10.9 percent.

Statewide the jobless rate was 9.3 percent in June, up from 8.4 percent in May but down from 10.3 percent a year ago.

The 3,173 people looking for jobs in Evanston in June was up 603 from number for May. But the number of people with jobs rose by 293 to 38,775.

The increase in the number of people looking for work was largely driven by students entering the labor force for the summer and by new graduates looking for permanent jobs.

Seventeen of the nearly 100 towns in Illinois with more than 25,000 residents had lower jobless numbers than Evanston in June.

The lowest rate, 6.2 percent, was in Highland Park. Other nearby towns with lower rates included Northbrook at 6.5 percent, Wilmette at 6.6 percent, Glenview at 6.9 percent, Mount Prospect at 7.0 precent, Oak Park at 7.1 percent and Arlingon Heights at 7.2 percent.