Press Release - Thursday, May 24, 2018
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Unemployment Rate Falls in All Metros for Second Consecutive Month
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
Metropolitan Area | Apr. 2018 | Apr. 2017 | Over-the-Year Change |
Bloomington | 3.1% | 3.6% | -0.5 |
Carbondale-Marion | 3.8% | 4.1% | -0.3 |
Champaign-Urbana | 3.2% | 3.6% | -0.4 |
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 3.6% | 4.6% | -1.0 |
Danville | 4.8% | 5.6% | -0.8 |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 3.5% | 4.1% | -0.6 |
Decatur | 4.4% | 4.8% | -0.4 |
Elgin | 3.7% | 4.2% | -0.5 |
Kankakee | 4.2% | 4.7% | -0.5 |
Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 3.4% | 3.9% | -0.5 |
Peoria | 4.1% | 5.0% | -0.9 |
Rockford | 4.2% | 6.5% | -2.3 |
Springfield | 3.2% | 3.8% | -0.6 |
St. Louis (IL-Section) | 3.4% | 4.1% | -0.7 |
Illinois Statewide | 3.6% | 4.5% | -0.9 |
* Data subject to revision. | |||
CHICAGO-Unemployment rates decreased over-the-year in April 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 nine of the metropolitan areas.
"The unemployment rate has been below previous year levels in all metro areas for ten of the last eleven months," said IDES Director Jeff Mays. "In fact, three metro areas saw their lowest unemployment rate on record for April."
Illinois businesses added jobs in nine metro areas, with the largest increases in: Kankakee (+3.9 percent, +1,800), Lake (+1.9 percent, +7,800), and the Quad Cities (+1.5 percent, +2,700). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division increased (+0.7 percent or +25,300). Illinois businesses lost jobs in five metro areas with the largest losses in: Carbondale-Marion (-1.7 percent, -1,000), Springfield (-1.2 percent, -1,400), and Danville (-1.1 percent, -300).
The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas included Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (9 of 14), Professional and Business Services, (9 of 14), Manufacturing (8 of 14), Education and Health Services (8 of 14), and Leisure and Hospitality (8 of 14).
Not seasonally adjusted data compares April 2018 with April 2017. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 3.6 percent in April 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 3.7 percent in April 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) - April 2018
Metropolitan Area | April 2018* | April 2017** | Over-the-Year Change |
Bloomington MSA | 94,800 | 95,400 | -600 |
Carbondale-Marion MSA | 57,600 | 58,600 | -1,000 |
Champaign-Urbana MSA | 113,700 | 112,800 | 900 |
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,742,700 | 3,717,400 | 25,300 |
Danville MSA | 28,100 | 28,400 | -300 |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 186,100 | 183,400 | 2,700 |
Decatur MSA | 51,200 | 51,000 | 200 |
Elgin Metro Division | 259,000 | 256,700 | 2,300 |
Kankakee MSA | 48,100 | 46,300 | 1,800 |
Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 419,800 | 412,000 | 7,800 |
Peoria MSA | 172,400 | 172,900 | -500 |
Rockford MSA | 150,900 | 149,300 | 1,600 |
Springfield MSA | 112,500 | 113,900 | -1,400 |
Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 241,500 | 239,900 | 1,600 |
Illinois Statewide | 6,082,900 | 6,034,600 | 48,300 |
*Preliminary **Revised |
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Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
Labor Market Area | April 2018 | April 2017 | Over-the-Year Change |
Mattoon - Charleston Area |
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Clark County | 3.9% | 4.0% | -0.1% |
Coles County | 3.4% | 3.9% | -0.5% |
Cumberland County | 2.9% | 3.2% | -0.3% |
Douglas County | 3.1% | 3.3% | -0.2% |
Edgar County | 3.3% | 4.1% | -0.8% |
Moultrie County | 2.7% | 3.4% | -0.7% |
Shelby County | 3.4% | 3.8% | -0.4% |
Effingham Area |
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Clay County | 3.8% | 4.7% | -0.9% |
Crawford County | 3.9% | 4.6% | -0.7% |
Effingham County | 2.8% | 3.3% | -0.5% |
Fayette County | 4.1% | 4.8% | -0.7% |
Jasper County | 3.4% | 4.0% | -0.6% |
Centralia - Mt. Vernon Area |
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Clinton County | 2.6% | 3.0% | -0.4% |
Hamilton County | 3.4% | 4.0% | -0.6% |
Jefferson County | 4.1% | 4.7% | -0.6% |
Marion County | 3.8% | 4.7% | -0.9% |
Washington County | 2.0% | 2.5% | -0.5% |
Wayne County | 4.4% | 5.7% | -1.3% |
South Central Illinois Highlights
Help Wanted
Area employers advertised for 1,700 positions in April 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 membership and research association. Employers need more workers than the help wanted advertising indicates because some industries, such as Construction, typically do not post advertised job openings.
Labor market conditions continued to improve in South Central Illinois with April 2018 unemployment rates at lower levels. All eighteen counties in the region continued to report declines in unemployment compared to April 2017. The data is not seasonally adjusted.
Employers have increased demand for employees in Transportation and Warehousing, Finance and Insurance, and Wholesale Trade.
Health Care and Social Assistance, Administrative Support, Retail Trade, and Manufacturing occupations showed a slight decrease over the year.
The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. A person who exhausts benefits, or is ineligible, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.
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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