Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

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

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

Metro East Highlights

Help Wanted

Area employers advertised for 5,200 openings in May and approximately 81 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 ad indicates because some industries, such as construction, typically do not advertise job openings.

The May 2017 unemployment rate for the Illinois Section of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area was 4.3 percent, a decrease of (-1.2) from the April 2016 rate of

5.1percent. The data is not seasonally adjusted.

The labor force decreased by 3,774 to 341,080 in May 2017 from 344,854 in May 2016. The number of employed individuals decreased by 759 to 326,370 in May 2017 from May 2016. In May 2017, there were 14,710 unemployed people in the labor force. This is a decrease of 3,015 compared to the May 2016 total unemployed, 17,725.

Over the year, nonfarm payrolls increased by (+1,000).

Employment increased in Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (+1,100), Leisure and Hospitality (+200), Manufacturing (+100), Educational and Health Services (+100), and Government (+100) in May 2017 compared

to May 2016.

Decreases in employment over the year included Other Services (-200), Information (-100), Professional and Business Services (-100), Wholesale Trade (-100), and Financial Activities (-100).

Mining and Construction, and Retail Trade employment was unchanged over the year.