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Illinois Unemployment Rate Remains Above National Average in All but Two Metro Areas

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Metropolitan Area

Aug.

2016

Aug.

2015

Over-the-Year Change

Bloomington

5.1%

4.9%

0.2

Carbondale-Marion

5.9%

6.0%

-0.1

Champaign-Urbana

5.1%

5.4%

-0.3

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights

5.4%

5.6%

-0.2

Danville

7.1%

7.3%

-0.2

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL

5.6%

5.3%

0.3

Decatur

6.7%

7.3%

-0.6

Elgin

5.1%

5.6%

-0.5

Kankakee

6.1%

6.7%

-0.6

Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI

4.8%

5.1%

-0.3

Peoria

6.2%

6.5%

-0.3

Rockford

6.3%

7.0%

-0.7

Springfield

4.6%

5.1%

-0.5

St. Louis (IL-Section)

5.7%

6.2%

-0.5

Illinois Statewide

5.5%

5.8%

-0.3

* Data subject to revision.

 

CHICAGO–Again this month, twelve of Illinois’ metropolitan (metro) areas experienced decreases in their over-the-year unemployment rate and eight of the metro areas had increases in nonfarm jobs, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).”

“Job growth is primarily confined to metro areas north of the I-80 corridor and even though it is growth, it is anemic growth when compared to other major metro areas across the country such as New York, Los Angeles and Dallas,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “And many of the Downstate metros still haven’t fully recovered from the recession.”

Illinois businesses added jobs in eight metro areas, in which the largest increases were seen in: Rockford (+2.2 percent, +3,400), Lake-Kenosha (+1.5 percent, +6,300), and Elgin (+1.3 percent, +3,400). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division increased (+1.3 percent or +46,800). Illinois businesses lost jobs in six metro areas including the Quad Cities (-3.2 percent, -5,900), Bloomington (-2.5 percent, -2,400), and Carbondale-Marion (-2.3 percent, -1,300). The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas were: Retail Trade (10 of 14), Professional and Business Services (eight of 14), and Leisure and Hospitality (eight of 14).

Not seasonally adjusted data compares August 2016 with August 2015. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 5.5 percent in August 2016 and stood at 12.2 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.0 percent in August 2016 and 10.6 percent in January 2010 at its peak. The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and looking for work, and is not tied to collecting unemployment insurance benefits.

 

Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – August 2016

Metropolitan Area

Aug.
2016*

Aug.
2015**

Over-the-Year Change

Bloomington MSA

91,900

94,300

-2,400

Carbondale-Marion MSA

55,700

57,000

-1,300

Champaign-Urbana MSA

104,300

103,200

1,100

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division

3,724,200

3,677,400

46,800

Danville MSA

28,900

29,100

-200

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA

179,500

185,400

-5,900

Decatur MSA

50,800

51,700

-900

Elgin Metro Division

259,800

256,400

3,400

Kankakee MSA

45,000

44,500

500

Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division

419,500

413,200

6,300

Peoria MSA

177,700

179,500

-1,800

Rockford MSA

155,800

152,400

3,400

Springfield MSA

117,400

116,500

900

Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA

234,700

234,000

700

Illinois Statewide

6,022,900

5,985,600

37,300

                 *Preliminary    **Revised

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas

 

Labor Market Area

Aug-16

Aug-15

Over-the-Year Change

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin IL-IN-WI MSA

5.4%

5.6%

-0.2

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division
Cook County

5.7%

5.9%

-0.2

DuPage County

4.4%

4.5%

-0.1

Grundy County

5.9%

6.2%

-0.3

Kendall County

4.7%

4.8%

-0.1

McHenry County

4.6%

4.8%

-0.2

Will County

5.4%

5.6%

-0.2

Elgin, IL Metro Division
DeKalb County

5.0%

5.6%

-0.6

Kane County

5.1%

5.6%

-0.5

Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division
Lake County

4.8%

5.2%

-0.4

Cities (with total population of at least 100,000) *
Aurora City

5.3%

5.7%

-0.4

Chicago City

6.1%

6.4%

-0.3

Elgin City

5.5%

5.9%

-0.4

Joliet City

6.5%

6.6%

-0.1

Naperville City

4.5%

4.5%

0.0

* Unemployment rates for cities with total population of 25,000 or more can be found at www.ides.illinois.gov/LMI/Pages/Current_Monthly_Unemployment_Rates.aspx

Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.8 percent in August 2016 decreased from 5.1 percent in August 2015. The last time the August rate was equal to or lower than the current rate was in 2007 when it was 4.8 percent. For the month of August 2016, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 22,700.

Total nonfarm employment increased +6,300 compared to August 2015. Leisure-Hospitality (+2,200), Wholesale Trade (+1,600), and Professional-Business Services (+1,400) reported the largest payroll gains. The Financial Activities (-400), Educational-Health Services (-400), and Information (-300) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.


Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.4 percent in August 2016 from 5.6 percent in August 2015. The last time the August rate was equal to or lower than the current rate was in 2007 when it was 5.1 percent. For the month of August 2016, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 208,400.

Total nonfarm employment increased +46,800 compared to August 2015. Leisure-Hospitality (+19,200), Professional-Business Services (+11,900), and Construction (6,300) reported the largest payroll gains. The Manufacturing (-3,300), Financial Activities (-2,200), and Information
(-1,200) sector recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.

Elgin, IL Metro Division

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.1 percent in August 2016 from 5.6 percent in August 2015. The last time the August rate was equal to or lower than the current rate was in 2007 when it was 4.2 percent. For the month of August 2016, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 16,800.

Total nonfarm employment increased +3,400 compared to August 2015. Retail Trade (+1,900), Construction (+1,100), and Professional-Business Services (+1,000) reported the largest payroll gains. The Manufacturing (-800) and Wholesale Trade
(-600) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.

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