Lake County Unemployment Figure Drops, But Job Market Struggles

Though the unemployment mark in Lake County dropped from 10.5 percent in March to 8.8 percent in April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market continues to wallow.

The number of jobs created nationally was just 54,000 in May, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. That number, combined with a downturn in manufacturing, consumer spending and a depressed housing market has put what was thought to be a rebounding economy back in jeopardy.

Locally, the (CRC) in Lake Forest continues to see new people come through the door seeking job search assistance. One change, according to CRC Office Administrator Kelly Clark, is the age.

"We've had an increase in the number of college graduates coming in this spring compared to the two previous ones I have been here," Clark said.

And yet on the other side of the age spectrum, Clark said an encouraging sign has been jobs landed by candidates in their 60s.

"That shows there is hope because an age group that generally wonders if there are jobs out there for them," she said.

A year ago, unemployment stood at more than 10 percent in Lake County. There is no date for Lake Forest or Lake Bluff, but on a few neighboring towns.

• Highland Park's unemployment rate decreased from 6.0 to 5.4 percent from March to April 2010. The jobless rate was 6.8 percent in April 2010.
• Wilmette's jobless rate increased just barely from 5.3 to 5.4 percent from March to April. The unemployment rate was 7.0 percent in April 2010.
• In Zion, the unemployment rate decreased from13.3  to 11.0 percent from March to April 2011. The unemployment rate was 14.0 percent in April 2010.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the following data in a Friday news release:

• The number of long-term unemployed — meaning those who have been jobless for over than 27 weeks — increased by 360,000 to 6.2 million.  
• Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men was 8.9 percent, adult women was 8.0 percent, teenagers  was 24.2 percent, whites was 8.0 percent, blacks was 16.2 percent, and Hispanics was 11.9 percent. These groups showed little or no change in May.