CHICAGO–This month, seven of Illinois’ metropolitan (metro) areas experienced increases 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).
“The state is still experiencing not nearly enough growth,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “While the unemployment rate is slightly increased from a year ago, it’s not nearly enough growth as we continue to lose ground to other parts of the country.”
Illinois businesses added jobs in eight metro areas, in which the largest increases were seen in: Rockford (+1.7 percent, +2,600), Champaign-Urbana (+1.5 percent, +1,700), Elgin (+1.4 percent, +3,700), and Lake-Kenosha (+1.4 percent, +5,800). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division increased (+1.1 percent or +40,300). Illinois businesses lost jobs in six metro areas including Carbondale-Marion (-3.4 percent, -2,000), Bloomington (-2.4 percent, -2,300), and the Quad Cities (-2.3 percent, -4,300). The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas were: Education and Health Services (10 of 14), and Other Services (nine of 14).
Not seasonally adjusted data compares September 2016 with September 2015. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 5.4 percent in September 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 4.8 percent in September 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) – September 2016
| Metropolitan Area | Sept. | Sept. | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington MSA | 93,700 | 96,000 | -2,300 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 56,500 | 58,500 | -2,000 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 112,100 | 110,400 | 1,700 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,715,200 | 3,674,900 | 40,300 |
| Danville MSA | 29,200 | 29,400 | -200 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 180,000 | 184,300 | -4,300 |
| Decatur MSA | 51,500 | 52,000 | -500 |
| Elgin Metro Division | 262,000 | 258,300 | 3,700 |
| Kankakee MSA | 45,500 | 45,400 | 100 |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 417,600 | 411,800 | 5,800 |
| Peoria MSA | 176,700 | 179,000 | -2,300 |
| Rockford MSA | 155,900 | 153,300 | 2,600 |
| Springfield MSA | 115,600 | 114,500 | 1,100 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 239,100 | 237,300 | 1,800 |
| Illinois Statewide | 6,051,600 | 6,008,900 | 42,700 |
| *Preliminary **Revised | |||
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
| Labor Market Area | Sep-16 | Sep-15 | Over-the-Year Change |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin IL-IN-WI MSA | 5.2% | 5.1% | 0.1 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division | |||
| Cook County | 5.5% | 5.4% | 0.1 |
| DuPage County | 4.2% | 4.0% | 0.2 |
| Grundy County | 5.5% | 5.5% | 0.0 |
| Kendall County | 4.5% | 4.3% | 0.2 |
| McHenry County | 4.4% | 4.4% | 0.0 |
| Will County | 5.1% | 5.1% | 0.0 |
| Elgin, IL Metro Division | |||
| DeKalb County | 5.0% | 5.2% | -0.2 |
| Kane County | 5.2% | 5.3% | -0.1 |
| Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division | |||
| Lake County | 5.0% | 4.9% | 0.1 |
| Cities (with total population of at least 100,000) * | |||
| Aurora City | 5.1% | 5.1% | 0.0 |
| Chicago City | 5.9% | 5.8% | 0.1 |
| Elgin City | 5.6% | 5.9% | -0.3 |
| Joliet City | 6.0% | 6.0% | 0.0 |
| Naperville City | 4.3% | 4.0% | 0.3 |
* Unemployment rates for cities with total population of 25,000 or more can be found atwww.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 September 2016 was unchanged from September 2015. For the month of September 2016, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 22,400.
Total nonfarm employment increased +5,800 compared to September 2015. Wholesale Trade (+2,000), Professional-Business Services (+1,800), and Leisure-Hospitality (+1,200) reported the largest payroll gains. The Financial Activities
(-700), Information (-300), and Educational-Health Services
(-200) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 5.2 percent in September 2016 from 5.1 percent in September 2015. For the month of September 2016, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 198,400.
Total nonfarm employment increased +40,300 compared to September 2015. Professional-Business Services (+16,900), Leisure-Hospitality (+15,600), and Educational-Health Services (6,100) reported the largest payroll gains. Manufacturing (-4,800), Financial Activities (-3,400), and Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (-1,500) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.
Elgin, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.2 percent in September 2016 from 5.3 percent in September 2015. The last time the September rate was equal to or lower than the current rate was in 2007 when it was 4.0 percent. For the month of September 2016, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 16,900.
Total nonfarm employment increased +3,700 compared to September 2015. Professional-Business Services (+2,800), Construction (+1,100), Retail Trade (+700), and Educational-Health Services (+600) reported the largest payroll gains. Wholesale Trade (-700), Manufacturing (-600), and Leisure-Hospitality (-400) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.
