CHAMPAIGN- The Department of Employment Security says Illinois' unemployment rate rose again in January, reaching 6.3 percent.
The department's monthly report on Thursday also noted that U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revised December's figure upward to 6.1 percent rather than the originally reported 5.9 percent. The department said January unemployment was up .2 percent.
The report noted that government employers lost a net 2,600 jobs and companies in the other services category lost 2,100 jobs. Still, the state had 57,600 more jobs in January than it had a year earlier.
Department director Jeff Mays complained the state lags the nation in job growth and has throughout the recovery from the last recession. The national unemployment rate for January was 4.9 percent.