Evanston’s unemployment rate improved last year, dropping from 6.5 percent to 4.2 percent, the city announced Wednesday.

In a 2014 year-in-review, released by the city’s Economic Development Division, staff detailed city updates, including new businesses, new jobs, the employment rate and commercial building vacancy rates in Evanston.

The review reported the addition of 43 new businesses and 109 new full-time jobs in 2014.

Additionally, the review highlighted the partnership between the Evanston Youth and Young Adult Division and the Evanston Youth Job Center. The partnership placed more than 500 young adults in jobs with 14 different employers through the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program, according to the city. As a result of the program’s success, Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl and the city won first place for small cities in the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ National Summer Youth Jobs Challenge.

The Economic Development Division also releases an economic report each quarter during the year.

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