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Unemployment Rate Falls in All Metros
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. |
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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 | March | 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
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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. 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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