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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

Bloomington MSA

DeWitt County

4.6%

5.0%

-0.4

McLean County

3.8%

4.3%

-0.5

Peoria MSA

Marshall County

5.3%

6.2%

-0.9

Peoria County

5.4%

6.4%

-1.0

Stark County

6.8%

7.1%

-0.3

Tazewell County

4.8%

6.0%

-1.2

Woodford County

4.1%

5.0%

-0.9

Ottawa-Streator Area

5.4%

6.0%

-0.6

Bureau County

4.7%

5.4%

-0.7

LaSalle County

5.6%

6.2%

-0.6

Putnam County

5.1%

5.5%

-0.4

Galesburg Area

5.2%

5.6%

-0.4

Knox County

5.2%

5.6%

-0.4

Warren County

3.8%

4.3%

-0.5

Cities

Bloomington City

3.8%

4.2%

-0.4

Galesburg City

5.3%

5.6%

-0.3

Normal City

3.4%

4.0%

-0.6

Pekin City

5.8%

6.9%

-1.1

Peoria City

5.3%

6.3%

-1.0

Counties

Fulton County

6.0%

6.9%

-0.9

Henderson County

5.0%

5.5%

-0.5

Henry County

4.8%

5.6%

-0.8

Livingston County

4.1%

5.1%

-1.0

Logan County

4.4%

4.8%

-0.4

Mason County

5.6%

6.4%

-0.8

Pontiac Area:The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 4.1 percent in March 2018 from 5.1 percent in March 2017. Nonfarm payroll employment increased by (+250). Manufacturing increased by (+150), while Educational & Health Services (-50) had the largest decline from a year ago.

 



Central Illinois Highlights

Help Wanted

Area employers advertised for 7,000 positions in March 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 membershipandresearchassociation.Employersactuallyneed more workers than the help wanted advertising indicates becausesomeindustries,suchasConstruction,typicallydonot post advertised jobopenings.

Bloomington MSA:The not seasonally adjusted unemploymentratedecreasedto 3.8 percentin March2018when comparedto 4.4 percentin March2017.Therewerean estimated 3,700 unemployed people in the labor force in March 2018.

Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased by (+300). Jobs gains were reported in Leisure & Hospitality (+500) and Government (+500). Declines were reported in Retail Trade (-200), while Professional & Business Services, Information, Transportation, Warehousing, & Utilities, Manufacturing, and Other Services each declined by (-100). All other major industry sectors were little changed compared to a yearago.

 

Peoria MSA:The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.1 percent in March 2018 from 6.1 percent in March 2017. There were an estimated 9,000 unemployed people in the labor force in March 2018.

Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased by (+900). Job gains were reported in Manufacturing (+1,700), Transportation, Warehousing, & Utilities (+400), and Professional & Business Services (+300). Declineswerereported in Government (-500), Construction (-300), Educational & Health Services (-200), and Wholesale Trade (-200), while Leisure & Hospitality, Information, and Retail Trade each declined by (-100). All other major industry sectors were stable compared to last year.

Ottawa-Streator Area:The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.4 percent in March 2018 from 6.0 percent in March 2017. There were an estimated 4,200 unemployed people in the labor force in March 2018. Over the year, nonfarm payrolls decreased by (-50) compared to a year ago. The largest gains occurred in Manufacturing (+200) and Leisure & Hospitality (+125). Declines were reported in Financial Activities (-150), Professional & Business Services
(-100), Government (-75), and Construction (-50). All other major industry sectors were stable compared to last year.

Galesburg Area:The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.2 percent in March 2018 from 5.6 percent in March 2017. Nonfarm payroll employment decreased by
(-500). Construction and Manufacturing each increased by (+50), while Government (-175) had the largest decline from a year ago.


 

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. BLSComments 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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