Released on: August 25, 2008, 3:34 am

Press Release Author: Mary Waldron

Industry: Consumer Services

Press Release Summary: Pasadena, CA - The unemployment rate in Illinois keeps
climbing, having scaled past 7.3% last month, the highest it's been in nearly 15
years. The unemployment rate in Joliet County in Illinois hit 9% in July, according
to statistics released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security, a sizeable
increase from the rate of 6.5% in July 2007. Fortunately, EmploymentCrossing, one of
the leading job boards in the world, was able to post 44,600 jobs last week in
Illinois alone, a terrific effort indeed, considering the state's current job
market. The job site is now increasing its own workforce to generate as many job
postings as it can in order to relieve the unemployed of their present plight.

Press Release Body: \'\'Illinois' job market is in complete shambles. Many people are
coming to our door looking for help finding jobs,\'\' says A. Harrison Barnes, the CEO
of EmploymentCrossing. \'\'The construction industry, especially home builders and
associated trades, are really being hit hard in Illinois.\'\'

The Employment Security Department says payroll jobs got reduced by 9,700 between
June and July, and the number of unemployed people looking for work has climbed for
three straight months. Thousands of blue-collar jobs have been lost. The outlook for
white-collar jobs is also not bright, as accounting firms and law firms are
suffering due to the sliding economy. Employers are cutting back on hiring for
part-time jobs, worsening the unemployment situation in Illinois drastically. Since
July of 2007, 10,000 construction jobs have been lost, along with 6,000 financial
jobs and 5,500 manufacturing jobs.

\'\'The reason for the gloomy outlook is, more than anything else, the distorted
picture that the analysts show,\'\' says Barnes. \'\'The projections of the real job
market have been distorted. True, the economic situation in Illinois is bad, but if
the job seeker is alert and quick, he or she is sure to get a job. Though some good
jobs have disappeared, the consistent trend in the economy is towards higher-paying
jobs that use the talent and skills of an educated workforce.

\'\'What is most important is to search for jobs in the right place.
EmploymentCrossing scours over 250,000 employer sites and more than 8,000 job boards
for high-paying, active job listings, and posts them in the site's revolutionary job
database.\'\'

According to Barnes, the top job types listed on EmploymentCrossing's website are:

* Managerial jobs
* Healthcare jobs
* Information technology jobs
* Engineering jobs
* Accounting jobs

\'\'With a highly trained team of researchers who personally screen each and every job
posted on EmploymentCrossing's portals, EmploymentCrossing seeks out, edits,
approves, and tracks an elite collection of jobs in Illinois on an ongoing basis,\'\'
Barnes says. \'\'EmploymentCrossing is not for everyone - we are exclusive and
private, and only members have access to our job-opening research.\'\'

Unlike other job boards that simply herd masses of job listings without looking
back, EmploymentCrossing ensures quality and accuracy to prevent users from wasting
time with outdated or filled jobs. There are over 2 million job listings at present
on EmploymentCrossing's site, and the number of jobs is expected to receive a major
boost in the coming days. For more information, log on to
www.employmentcrossing.com.

Contact:
Mary Waldron, Editorial Coordinator
EmploymentCrossing
626-243-1821
maryw@employmentcrossing.com

About EmploymentCrossing

EmploymentCrossing is a powerful and comprehensive organization dedicated to helping
professionals find jobs that will enhance their careers. EmploymentCrossing consists
of 90+ industry-specific job boards which consolidate every job opening they can
find in one convenient location. The website also offers a seven-day free trial to
new members.

Web Site: http://www.employmentcrossing.com/

Contact Details: Mary Waldron, Editorial Coordinator
EmploymentCrossing
626-243-1821
maryw@employmentcrossing.com
175, South Lake Avenue,
Pasadena,
CA, 91101