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State Stix

Men earnings less than $12,000 per year

1973

1987

Whites

8.4%

13.2 %

Blacks

24.9 %

33.0 %

Hispanics

19.6 %

33.9 %

Source: Labor Research Association, Economic Notes, "Wage Trends," July-August 1991.



Why?

Fewer high-wage blue-collar jobs. More low-wage service jobs. Higher education requirements for jobs. Inadequate attention at national level to U.S. education system.

Source: Same as above.

General funds down

At the end of August the general funds balance was $6.512 million. This record-low balance was possible only because the comptroller was holding $254 million in bills the state lacked the money to pay. The average daily available balance was $226.611 million.

Source: Office of the Comptroller.

Unemployment up

The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in August was 6.8 percent, the same as in July. Illinois' was 7.2 percent, up from 6.7 percent in July.

In August there were 6.035 million people in the state's civilian labor force; 5.598 million had jobs (down 38,000 from July); 437,000 were looking for work (up 31,000).

Schools ended their summer terms, leaving their nonclassroom workers temporarily unemployed. Summer hiring in recreation and construction did not offset these losses. Seasonal downturns in retail jobs exceeded the upturns. Manufacturing and finance held steady.

Final unemployment rates for June in the state's metropolitan areas were:

Aurora-Elgin, 7.4 percent.

Bloomington-Normal, 4.6 percent.

Champaign-Urbana-Rantoul, 4.7 percent.

Chicago, 7.1 percent.

Davenport-Rock Island-Moline (Illinois sector), 7.5 percent.

Decatur, 8.9 percent.

Joliet, 7.8 percent.

Kankakee, 8.3 percent.

Lake County, 4.7 percent.

Peoria, 7.0 percent.

Rockford, 7.9 percent.

Springfield, 4.9 percent.

St. Louis (Illinois sector), 8.3 percent.

Source: Department of Employment Security.

Margaret S. Knoepfie

October /1991/Illinois lssues/31


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