State Stix

State Stix

General funds

November's general funds ending balance was $39.602 million. This balance was possible only because the comptroller was holding $370 million in bills the state lacked cash to pay.

Source: Office of the Comptroller.

Total nonagricultural wage and salary employment in Illinois

Sept. 1991 Sept. 1990 change

Total employees 5,313,600 5,290,900 + 0.4%

Manufacturing 976,100 985,200 -0.9

Nonmanufacturing 3,582,100 3,552,400 +0.8

Mining 19,800 20,200 -2.0

Construction 227,600 233,700 -2.6

Trans./Comm./Pub. Utl. 309,400 308,100 +0.4

Wholesale trade 360,600 359,900 +0.2

Retail trade 914,300 902,500 +1.3

Fin./Ins./Real estate 375,300 375,500 -0.1

Services 1,375,100 1,352,500 +1.7

Government 775,400 753,300 +0.3

Source: Department of Employment Security.

Worst since 1986

The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in October remained 6.8 percent. Illinois' rose to 8.5 percent from 7.7 percent in October — the highest since March 1986. Among the 10 most populous states, Illinois' unemployment rate was the second highest, topped only by Michigan's.

The state's civilian work force numbered 5.954 million people in November, down 1,000 from October; 5.449 million had jobs, down 45,000; 505,000 were unemployed, up 44,000 and the highest since February 1986. Seasonal declines and bad weather hurt construction, services and real estate. Government and retail trade were up. In November, 75 Illinois employers laid off 50 or more, compared to 25 employers in October and 16 in September.

Final unemployment rates in the state's major metro areas in October were:

Aurora-Elgin, 7.5 percent.
Bloomington-Normal, 4.3 percent.
Champaign-Urbana-Rantoul, 4.9 percent.
Chicago, 7.4 percent.
Decatur, 9.6 percent.
Joliet, 7.3 percent.
Kankakee, 9.0 percent.
Lake County, 4.7 percent.
Peoria, 7.3 percent.
Quad Cities (Illinois sector), 8.0 percent.
Rockford, 8.3 percent.
Springfield, 5.4 percent.
St. Louis (Illinois sector), 8.3 percent.
Source: Department of Employment Security.

Margaret S. Knoepfle

January 1992/Illinois lssues/33