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Unemployment Rate Up Slightly in most Metros

Press Release - Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Metropolitan Area

Oct. 2018

Oct. 2017

Over-the-Year Change

Bloomington

4.1%

3.6%

0.5

Carbondale-Marion

4.6%

4.1%

0.5

Champaign-Urbana

4.3%

3.8%

0.5

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights

3.9%

4.8%

-0.9

Danville

5.5%

5.6%

-0.1

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL

3.9%

3.8%

0.1

Decatur

5.3%

4.8%

0.5

Elgin

4.4%

3.9%

0.5

Kankakee

4.6%

4.4%

0.2

Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI

3.9%

3.6%

0.3

Peoria

4.8%

4.5%

0.3

Rockford

5.2%

4.7%

0.5

Springfield

4.1%

3.8%

0.3

St. Louis (IL-Section)

4.4%

4.1%

0.3

Illinois Statewide

4.2%

4.5%

-0.3

     * Data subject to revision.

CHICAGO-Unemployment rates increased over-the-year in October in twelve of Illinois's metropolitan areas and decreased in two, 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.

"The unemployment rate increased over the year in most metro areas across the state," said IDES Director Jeff Mays. "The increases were mostly due to more people reentering the job market and not immediately securing a job."

Illinois businesses added jobs in ten metro areas, with the largest increases in: Kankakee (+5.7 percent, +2,700), the Quad Cities (+2.0 percent, + 3,700), and Lake (+1.8 percent, +7,400). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division increased (+0.8 percent or +29,400). Illinois businesses lost jobs in three metro areas: Carbondale-Marion (-0.7 percent, -400), Springfield (-0.4 percent, -400), and Peoria (-0.1 percent, -100). Bloomington was unchanged.

The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas included Manufacturing (11 of 14), Professional and Business Services (11 of 14), Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (9 of 14), Education and Health Services (9 of 14), Mining and Construction (8 of 14), and Wholesale Trade (8 of 14).

Not seasonally adjusted data compares October 2018 with October 2017. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 4.2 percent in October 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 3.5 percent in October 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) - October 2018

Metropolitan Area

October

2018*

October

2017**

Over-the-Year Change

Bloomington MSA

95,500

95,500

0

Carbondale-Marion MSA

58,200

58,600

-400

Champaign-Urbana MSA

114,700

113,500

1,200

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division

3,818,400

3,789,000

29,400

Danville MSA

28,500

28,300

200

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA

189,700

186,000

3,700

Decatur MSA

52,400

51,700

700

Elgin Metro Division

266,100

262,800

3,300

Kankakee MSA

50,200

47,500

2,700

Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division

428,500

421,100

7,400

Peoria MSA

173,300

173,400

-100

Rockford MSA

153,600

152,400

1,200

Springfield MSA

112,500

112,900

-400

Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA

244,000

242,200

1,800

Illinois Statewide

6,207,000

6,147,900

59,100

                *Preliminary    **Revised

 

 

 


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

Labor Market Area

Oct. 2018

Oct. 2017

Over-the-Year Change

Decatur MSA

   Macon County

5.3%

4.8%

 0.5

Springfield MSA

 

 

 

   Menard County

3.8%

3.5%

 0.3

   Sangamon County

4.2%

3.8%

 0.4

Cities

 

 

 

   Decatur City

5.9%

5.5%

 0.4

   Quincy City

4.1%

3.7%

 0.4

   Springfield City

4.4%

4.1%

 0.3

Counties

 

 

 

   Adams County

3.9%

3.5%

 0.4

   Brown County

2.7%

2.7%

 0.0

   Calhoun County

4.4%

4.8%

-0.4

   Cass County

4.2%

3.7%

 0.5

   Christian County

5.1%

4.6%

 0.5

   DeWitt County

4.7%

3.8%

 0.9

   Greene County

4.6%

4.5%

 0.1

   Jersey County

4.4%

4.0%

 0.4

   Logan County

4.5%

3.9%

 0.6

   McDonough County

4.7%

4.2%

 0.5

   Macoupin County

4.4%

4.2%

 0.2

   Montgomery County

5.4%

4.9%

 0.5

   Morgan County

4.1%

3.8%

 0.3

   Moultrie County

4.1%

3.5%

 0.6

   Piatt County

3.9%

3.4%

 0.5

   Pike County

4.5%

3.8%

 0.7

   Schuyler County

4.1%

3.4%

 0.7

   Scott County

4.2%

4.2%

 0.0

   Shelby County

4.2%

3.7%

 0.5

Other Areas

 

 

 

   LWA 19

5.2%

4.7%

 0.5

   LWA 20

4.3%

3.9%

 0.4

   LWA 21

4.5%

4.2%

 0.3

   Central EDR

4.5%

4.1%

 0.4

 

 


Central Illinois Highlights


Help Wanted

Area employers advertised for 5,700 positions in October and approximately 79 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 actually need more workers than the help wanted advertising indicates because some industries, such as Construction, typically do not post advertised job openings.

 

Decatur MSA

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to
5.3 percent in October 2018 from 4.8 percent in October 2017. There were an estimated 2,700 unemployed people in the labor force in October 2018.

The total number of nonfarm jobs in the Decatur metro area increased by (+700) compared to one year ago. Payrolls increased in Manufacturing (+500), Educational & Health Services (+300), Construction (+300), and Leisure & Hospitality (+100). Declines were reported in Retail Trade (-300) and Professional & Business Services (-200). All other major industry sectors were stable compared to last year.

Springfield MSA

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 4.1 percent in October 2018 from 3.8 percent in October 2017. There were an estimated 4,600 unemployed people in the labor force in October 2018.

The total number of nonfarm jobs in the Springfield metro area decreased by (-400) compared to a year ago. Payroll increases were reported in Educational & Health Services (+800), Professional & Business Services (+300), and Transportation, Warehousing, & Utilities (+100). Declines were reported in Leisure & Hospitality (-1,200), while Retail Trade, Government, Financial Activities, and Other Services 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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