Employment in Illinois at the end of March 2009 was 5.744 million, below the lowest point in the 2001-2003 recession (it was 5.789 million in Nov 2003). That is almost the same as it was in March 1997 (5.748 million), while the employment levels in the Rest of the Midwest matches that of April 1996 while for the U.S. as a whole the current level matches that for April 2005.

Illinois lost 39,600 jobs at a rate of -0.68% March 2009, compared to a revised 36,300 job loss in February. Read the full review by clicking on the attached file.