Unemployment Rate Falls in Thirteen Metros

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Metropolitan Area	Feb. 2018	Feb. 2017		Over-the-Year Change
Bloomington	3.6%	4.9%	-1.3
Carbondale-Marion	4.3%	5.4%	-1.1
Champaign-Urbana	3.7%	4.9%	-1.2
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights	5.3%	5.3%	0.0
Danville	5.6%	7.2%	-1.6
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	4.4%	5.5%	-1.1
Decatur	4.9%	6.3%	-1.4
Elgin	4.6%	6.0%	-1.4
Kankakee	5.1%	6.6%	-1.5
Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI	4.3%	5.5%	-1.2
Peoria	5.0%	6.8%	-1.8
Rockford	4.9%	9.2%	-4.3
Springfield	4.0%	5.0%	-1.0
St. Louis (IL-Section)	4.1%	5.2%	-1.1
Illinois Statewide	5.0%	5.6%	-0.6
* Data subject to revision.

CHICAGO–Unemployment rates decreased over-the-year in February in 13 of Illinois’s metropolitan areas and was unchanged in one, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). Data also show nonfarm jobs increased in eleven of the metropolitan areas.

“It’s certainly a robust start to 2018 with declining unemployment rates in most areas,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “In fact, the February unemployment rate in thirteen of the metros is the lowest it has been since at least 2000.”

Illinois businesses added jobs in eleven metro areas, with the largest increases in: Rockford (+5.3 percent, +7,500), Kankakee (+4.2 percent, +1,900), and Elgin (+2.5 percent, +6,300). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division increased (+0.5 percent or +18,700). Illinois businesses lost jobs in three metro areas: Springfield (-1.8 percent, -2,000), Carbondale-Marion (-1.6 percent, -900), and Danville (-1.1 percent, -300).

The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas included Manufacturing (11 of 14), Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (8 of 14), Professional and Business Services, (8 of 14), and Government (8 of 14).

Not seasonally adjusted data compares February 2018 with February 2017. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 5.0 percent in February 2018 and stood at 12.2 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in February 2018 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) – February 2018

Metropolitan Area	February 2018*	February 2017**		Over-the-Year Change
Bloomington MSA	93,600	92,900	700
Carbondale-Marion MSA	56,900	57,800	-900
Champaign-Urbana MSA	111,400	110,200	1,200
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division	3,694,300	3,675,600	18,700
Danville MSA	27,800	28,100	-300
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA	183,200	179,900	3,300
Decatur MSA	50,900	50,800	100
Elgin Metro Division	255,600	249,300	6,300
Kankakee MSA	47,000	45,100	1,900
Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division	408,500	399,400	9,100
Peoria MSA	167,700	166,300	1,400
Rockford MSA	149,700	142,200	7,500
Springfield MSA	110,500	112,500	-2,000
Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA	235,500	235,300	200
Illinois Statewide	5,991,300	5,936,300	55,000
	Preliminary *Revised

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

	Feb.2018	Feb.2017	Over-the-Year Change
Carbondale-Marion MSA	4.3%	5.4%	-1.1%
Jackson County	3.8%	5.0%	-1.2%
Williamson County	4.7%	5.8%	-1.1%
Other Area Counties
Alexander County	7.0%	7.9%	-0.9%
Franklin County	5.7%	7.5%	-1.8%
Johnson County	7.4%	8.7%	-1.3%-
Massac County	5.7%	7.1%	-1.4%
Perry County	5.3%	6.9%	-1.6%
Pulaski County	7.1%	9.0%	-1.9%
Randolph County	4.1%	5.0%	-0.9%
Union County	6.8%	8.0%	-1.2%
Harrisburg Area
Gallatin County	5.1%	6.3%	-1.2%
Hamilton County	4.3%	5.6%	-1.3%
Hardin County	6.9%	9.1%	-2.2%
Pope County	5.3%	7.2%	-1.9%
Saline County	5.9%	7.0%	-1.1%
White County	3.9%	6.1%	-2.2%
Olney – Mt. Carmel Area
Edwards County	4.2%	5.7%	-1.5%
Lawrence County	5.4%	7.6%	-2.2%
Richland County	4.1%	5.7%	-1.6%
Wabash County	4.1%	6.0%	-1.9%
Wayne County	5.2%	7.7%	-2.5%

Southern Illinois Highlights

Help Wanted

Area employers advertised for 2,300 positions in February and approximately 82 percent sought full-time employment, according to Help Wanted Online data compiled by the Conference Board, which is a global, independent business membership and research association. Employers need more workers than the help wanted advertising indicated because some industries, such as Construction, typically do not post advertised job openings.

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in February 2018 in the Carbondale-Marion Metropolitan Statistical Area (Jackson and Williamson Counties). This is a (-1.1%) decrease compared to February 2017, when the jobless rate was 5.4 percent. There were approximately 2,550 unemployed in February 2018 in the two counties. Unemployment decreased in all 21 counties in the Southern Region compared to one year-ago.

Area employers continued to show demand in Retail Trade, Transportation and Warehousing, Administrative and Support Services, and Educational Services in February 2018.

Decreased hiring demand occurred in Public Administration and Accommodation-Food Services compared to February 2017.

Top occupations for hire included Truck Drivers, Insurance Sales Agents, Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers, and Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers.

The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. A person who exhausts benefits, or is ineligible, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.

Note:

Technical Note: Monthly 2017 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2018, as required by the U.S. BLS. Comments and tables distributed for prior metro area news releases should be discarded as any records or historical analysis previously cited may no longer be valid.