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Unemployment Rate Falls in All Metros

Press Release - Thursday, April 26, 2018

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

 

Metropolitan Area

Mar.

2018

Mar.

2017

Over-the-Year Change

Bloomington

3.8%

4.4%

-0.6

Carbondale-Marion

4.6%

4.9%

-0.3

Champaign-Urbana

3.8%

4.5%

-0.7

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights

4.2%

4.7%

-0.5

Danville

5.8%

6.5%

-0.7

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL

4.2%

4.9%

-0.7

Decatur

5.2%

5.7%

-0.5

Elgin

4.8%

5.4%

-0.6

Kankakee

5.2%

5.8%

-0.6

Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI

4.4%

5.0%

-0.6

Peoria

5.1%

6.1%

-1.0

Rockford

5.1%

8.4%

-3.3

Springfield

4.1%

4.5%

-0.4

St. Louis (IL-Section)

4.1%

4.7%

-0.6

Illinois Statewide

4.4%

5.0%

-0.6

* Data subject to revision.

 

 

 

       

CHICAGO-Unemployment rates decreased over-the-year in March in all of Illinois's metropolitan areas, 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 ten of the metropolitan areas.

 

"We continue to see declining unemployment rates in all areas," said IDES Director Jeff Mays. "In fact, the March unemployment rate was down in all but one of Illinois' 102 counties."

 

Illinois businesses added jobs in ten metro areas, with the largest increases in: Rockford (+4.5 percent, +6,400), Kankakee (+3.7 percent, +1,700), and Lake (+2.4 percent, +9,700). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division increased (+0.2 percent or +9,100). Illinois businesses lost jobs in three metro areas with the largest losses in: Springfield (-3.0 percent, -3,400), Carbondale-Marion (-2.4 percent, -1,400), and Danville (-1.1 percent, -300).

 

The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas included Manufacturing (9 of 14), Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (9 of 14), Professional and Business Services, (8 of 14), Leisure and Hospitality (8 of 14), and Government (8 of 14).

 

Not seasonally adjusted data compares March 2018 with March 2017. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 4.4 percent in March 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 4.1 percent in March 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) - March 2018

 

Metropolitan Area

March
2018*

March
2017**

Over-the-Year Change

Bloomington MSA

93,300

93,000

300

Carbondale-Marion MSA

56,800

58,200

-1,400

Champaign-Urbana MSA

112,300

110,900

1,400

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division

3,710,300

3,701,200

9,100

Danville MSA

27,900

28,200

-300

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA

184,300

181,300

3,000

Decatur MSA

50,900

50,800

100

Elgin Metro Division

257,300

253,000

4,300

Kankakee MSA

47,200

45,500

1,700

Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division

412,200

402,500

9,700

Peoria MSA

169,300

168,400

900

Rockford MSA

149,300

142,900

6,400

Springfield MSA

110,300

113,700

-3,400

Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA

238,100

238,400

-300

Illinois Statewide

6,021,800

5,979,900

41,900

 

                *Preliminary    **Revised

     

 


 

 

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

 

 

Mar.

2018

 

Mar. 2017

Over- the-Year Change

Decatur MSA

Macon County

5.2%

5.7%

-0.5

Springfield MSA

Menard County

4.1%

4.4%

-0.3

Sangamon County

4.1%

4.5%

-0.4

Cities

Decatur City

5.5%

6.2%

-0.7

Quincy City

3.6%

4.1%

-0.5

Springfield City

4.1%

4.6%

-0.5

Counties

Adams County

3.7%

3.9%

-0.2

Brown County

2.7%

2.9%

-0.2

Calhoun County

5.1%

5.8%

-0.7

Cass County

4.5%

4.9%

-0.4

Christian County

5.0%

5.6%

-0.6

DeWitt County

4.6%

5.0%

-0.4

Greene County

4.9%

5.1%

-0.2

Jersey County

4.5%

5.1%

-0.6

Logan County

4.4%

4.8%

-0.4

McDonough County

4.4%

5.1%

-0.7

Macoupin County

4.5%

4.9%

-0.4

Montgomery County

5.4%

6.0%

-0.6

Morgan County

4.1%

4.4%

-0.3

Moultrie County

3.5%

4.0%

-0.5

Piatt County

3.9%

4.5%

-0.6

Pike County

4.7%

4.8%

-0.1

Schuyler County

4.5%

5.2%

-0.7

Scott County

5.3%

5.7%

-0.4

Shelby County

4.2%

4.8%

-0.6

Other Areas

LWA 19

5.1%

5.6%

-0.5

LWA 20

4.2%

4.6%

-0.4

LWA 21

4.6%

5.0%

-0.4

Central EDR

4.5%

4.9%

-0.4



Central Illinois Highlights

 

Help Wanted

Area employers advertised for 5,800 positions in March and approximately 84 percent sought full-time employment, according to Help Wanted OnLine data compiled by the Conference Board, which is a global, independent business membershipandresearchassociation.Employersactuallyneed more workers than the help wanted advertising indicates becausesomeindustries,suchasConstruction,typicallydonot post advertised jobopenings.

 

Decatur MSA

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.2 percent in March 2018 from 5.7 percent in March 2017. There were an estimated 2,600 unemployed people in the labor force in March 2018.

 

The total number of nonfarm jobs in the Decatur metro area increased by (+100) compared to one year ago. Payrolls increased in Manufacturing (+400), Government (+200), Leisure & Hospitality (+100), and Professional & Business Services (+100). Declines were reported in Retail Trade (-300), Educational & Health Services (-200), while Construction and Other Services each declined by (-100). All other major industry sectors were stable compared to last year.

 

 

Springfield MSA

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 4.1 percent in March 2018 from 4.5 percent in March2017. Therewereanestimated4,500 unemployedpeople in the labor force in March 2018.

 

The total number of nonfarm jobs in the Springfield metro area decreasedby(-3,400)comparedtoayearago.Payrollincreases were reported in Construction (+100) and Wholesale Trade (+100). Declines were reported in Professional & Business Services (-1,600), Retail Trade (-1,200), Educational & Health Services (-300), and Other Services (-200), while Government, Information, and Leisure & Hospitality each declined by (-100). All other major industry sectors were stable compared to last year.


 

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.

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