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Only Two of 14 Metros Exceeded National Average Job Growth Rate

Press Release - Thursday, June 22, 2017

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

 

Metropolitan Area

 

May 2017

 

May 2016

Over-the- Year

Change

Bloomington

3.8%

4.6%

-0.8

Carbondale-Marion

4.5%

5.2%

-0.7

Champaign-Urbana

4.0%

4.5%

-0.5

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights

4.1%

5.4%

-1.3

Danville

6.0%

6.4%

-0.4

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL

4.1%

4.9%

-0.8

Decatur

5.0%

5.9%

-0.9

Elgin

4.3%

4.8%

-0.5

Kankakee

5.0%

5.7%

-0.7

Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI

3.9%

4.5%

-0.6

Peoria

5.0%

5.8%

-0.8

Rockford

6.1%

5.8%

0.3

Springfield

3.8%

4.2%

-0.4

St. Louis (IL-Section)

4.3%

5.1%

-0.8

Illinois Statewide

4.3%

5.3%

-1.0

* Data subject to revision.

 

CHICAGO-Unemployment rates were down over-the-year in all but one of Illinois's metro areas and down in all but two of Illinois's counties. Nine of the metro areas had increases in nonfarm jobs and five reported declines, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).

"While the job gains in the northeastern corner of the state show some signs of recovery, the rate of job growth remains well below the national average," said IDES Director Jeff Mays. "There are pockets of modest job growth Downstate, but we've yet to see any sustainable trends."

Illinois businesses added jobs in nine metro areas, with the largest increases in: Kankakee (+2.7 percent, +1,200), Lake/Kenosha (+1.6

percent, +6,700), and Springfield (+1.2 percent, +1,400). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division increased (+0.7 percent or +24,600). Illinois businesses lost jobs in five metro areas including Danville (-2.4 percent, -700), Rockford (-1.0 percent, -1,500), and Decatur (-0.6 percent, -300).

The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas included Government (10 of 14), Mining and Construction (nine of 14), Professional and Business Services (nine of 14), and Educational and Health Services (nine of 14).

Not seasonally adjusted data compares May 2017 with May 2016. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 4.3 percent in May 2017 and stood at 12.2 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in May 2017 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) - May 2017

 

Metropolitan Area

May 2017*

May 2016**

Over-the-Year Change

Bloomington MSA

94,600

93,700

900

Carbondale-Marion MSA

57,600

57,700

-100

Champaign-Urbana MSA

110,600

110,500

100

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division

3,744,300

3,719,700

24,600

Danville MSA

28,200

28,900

-700

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA

184,600

184,200

400

Decatur MSA

51,500

51,800

-300

Elgin Metro Division

255,100

255,200

-100

Kankakee MSA

45,500

44,300

1,200

Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division

417,700

411,000

6,700

Peoria MSA

177,400

176,000

1,400

Rockford MSA

151,500

153,000

-1,500

Springfield MSA

116,500

115,100

1,400

Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA

240,100

239,100

1,000

Illinois Statewide

6,061,600

6,036,800

24,800

*Preliminary   **Revised


 



 

 

May 17

 

May 16

Over- the- Year

Change

Davenport-Rock Island-Moline IL-IA MSA

Henry County

4.7 %

5.3 %

-0.6

Mercer County

4.2 %

5.3 %

-1.1

Rock Island

County

4.7 %

5.5 %

-0.8

Cities

Galesburg city

5.0 %

6.3 %

-1.3

Moline city

4.0 %

4.9 %

-0.9

Rock Island city

3.8 %

4.6 %

-0.8

Counties

Bureau County

4.1 %

5.2 %

-1.1

Fulton County

5.6 %

6.5 %

-0.9

Henderson County

4.3 %

5.3 %

-1.0

Knox County

4.4 %

5.3 %

-0.9

Stark County

5.5 %

6.6 %

-1.1

Warren County

3.8 %

4.5 %

-0.7

Whiteside County

4.3 %

5.0 %

-0.7

 

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


Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IL-IA MSA

 

Help Wanted

Area employers advertised for 4,300 positions in May and approximately 84 percent sought full-time employment, according to Help Wanted OnLine data compiled by the Conference Board. It is a global, independent business membership and research association. Employers actually need more workers than the help wanted advertising indicates because some industries, such as construction, typically do not advertise job openings.

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to4.1percentinMay2017from4.9percent in May 2016. The last time the May rate was equal to or lower than the current rate was in 2007 when itwas

3.6  percent. For the month of May 2017, theestimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 7,800.

Total nonfarm employment increased +400 compared to May 2016. The Educational-Health Services (+1,100) sector reported the largest payroll gain. Manufacturing (-500), Retail Trade (-400), Wholesale

Trade (-300), and Leisure-Hospitality (-300) sectors recorded the largest employment declines comparedto one yearago.

The unemploymentrateidentifiesthosewhoareoutof workandseekingemployment.Apersonwhoexhausts benefits, or is ineligible, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seekwork.


 

 

 

 


Note:

    • Monthly 2016 unemployment rates and total non-farm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February 2017, as required by the U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (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.

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