The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced that the unemployment rate increased +0.1 percentage point to 4.8 percent, while nonfarm payrolls increased +23,100 in February, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and released by IDES. The January revised unemployment rate was 4.7 percent, unchanged from the preliminary January unemployment rate. The January monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from +1,700 to -900 jobs. The February unemployment rate and payroll jobs estimate reflect activity for the week including the 12th. In February, the industry sectors with the largest over-the-month job gains included: Government (+6,700), Construction (+6,200), and Leisure and Hospitality (+5,400). The industry sectors with monthly payroll job declines included: Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-1,900), Manufacturing (-700), and Financial Activities (-600).  The state’s unemployment rate was +0.9 percentage point higher than the national unemployment rate reported for February. The national unemployment rate was 3.9 percent in February, up +0.2 percentage point from the previous month. The Illinois unemployment rate was up +0.5 percentage point from a year ago when it was 4.3 percent.