Despite February job losses in the Transportation, Utilities and the Trade sectors, the February unemployment rate in Illinois declined point three percentage points to 5.4 percent. According to the latest numbers released today (Thursday) Illinois Department of Employment Security nonfarm payrolls increased by over 25–thousand jobs last month with the biggest growth in the Education and Health Services, Government and Construction areas. Jeff Mays, IDES Director noted that neighboring states experienced positive growth in manufacturing jobs, Illinois has not. Illinois's overall 5.4 percent unemployment rate for February compares to 4.7 percent nationwide for the same period.