Illinois unemployment rose slightly in February to 5 percent according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
The February jobless rate was one-tenth of a percentage point higher than the January rate and three-tenths of a percentage point higher than a year earlier.
Total nonfarm payrolls declined by nearly 18,000 from a month earlier to more than 6.1 million.
The largest declines were in construction; trade, transportation and utilities; and information.
