Unemployment Report: Oak Lawn December 2012 Jobless Numbers
Unemployment rates in Illinois increased slightly from November 2012 to December but are still down compared to the the end of 2011, according to new figures released last week.
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Unemployment rates in Illinois increased slightly from November 2012 to December but are still down compared to the the end of 2011, according to new figures released last week.
In Oak Lawn, December's unemployment rate inched up one-tenth of percentage point from November from 8.1 to 8.2 percent. Since this time last year, the unemployment rate in the village has dropped from 9.1 percent to 8.2 percent, according to the figures.
November local unemployment rates fell in nine of 12 metro areas compared to last year, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
"The most pressing challenge to our economic progress is the uncertainty tied to Congress, the debt ceiling and the fiscal cliff," IDES Director Jay Rowell said. "Our economic recovery could be compromised if Congress is not seen as working together to build a solution."
IDES generally reports unemployment figures for municipalities with populations of 25,000 or more people. The numbers measure unemployment for residents who live in a certain town, not those who work in the town.
Statewide the unemployment rate increased from 8.3 percent in November 2012 to 8.6 percent in December. Compared to December 2011, unemployment in Illinois has dropped 0.7 percent.
The U.S. average unemployment rate was 7.6 percent in November 2012. See below for local unemployment rates near you, or go to the IDES website for a full list of municipalities.
SOUTHLAND
| Dec. 2012 | Nov. 2012 | Dec. 2011 | % Change Over Month | % Change Over Year | |
| Chicago Heights | 14.3 | 12.3 | 16 | 2.0 | -1.7 |
| Evergreen Park | 8.9 | 9.0 | 10.7 | -0.1 | -1.8 |
| Oak Forest | 8.0 | 8.1 | 9.2 | -0.1 | -1.2 |
| Oak Lawn | 8.2 | 8.1 | 9.1 | 0.1 | -0.9 |
| Orland Park | 6.9 | 6.7 | 7.3 | 0.2 | -0.4 |
| Tinley Park | 7.2 | 6.9 | 7.9 | 0.3 | -0.7 |
| Cook County | 8.9 | 8.8 | 9.7 | 0.1 | -0.8 |
| Will County | 8.7 | 8.1 | 9.4 | 0.6 | -0.7 |
| Illinois | 8.6 | 8.3 | 9.3 | 0.3 | -0.7 |
| U.S. Average | 7.6 | 7.4 | 8.3 | 0.2 |
-0.7 |
RobertS
12:05 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Are the numbers really down? Are they looking at the underemployed? Those that have taken part-time jobs to prevent the loss of everything? Numbers can be skewed to meet a particular need—look around—see the foreclosures, the businesses closing, the homeless—that is a real indicator of unemployment or underemployment. In my opinion, nothing has changed and when you look at the companies that are planning layoffs, 2013 does not look promising. Obamacare has many companies trying to figure out how to stay afloat and I don't see companies rushing to bring jobs back to the U.S.
Rick
3:39 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
I agree with the previous comments...companies are cutting part-time hours and making the full-timers work extra hours to avoid OBAMACARE. Tier 4 of unemployment was cut in 2012 and has changed the numbers purposely to make it look like we are on the road to recovery.