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Unemployment Rate Down in Thirteen Metro Areas

Press Release - Thursday, March 19, 2020

SPRINGFIELD - The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in January in thirteen Illinois metropolitan areas and increased in one, 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 shows the number of nonfarm jobs increased in four Illinois metropolitan areas and decreased in ten.

"This administration has spent the past year strengthening our state's economy by raising workers' wages, investing in our schools, and securing a much-needed bipartisan capital plan," said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes.  "As we enter this period of uncertainty, we remain committed to supporting working families."

Illinois businesses added jobs in four metro areas, with the largest percentage increases in Champaign-Urbana (+1.9%, +2,000), Kankakee (+1.3%, +600) and Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights (+1.0%, +36,400). Total nonfarm jobs were down in Rockford (-4.2%, -6,300), Peoria (-1.9%, -3,200) and Lake-Kenosha (-1.6%, -6,500). The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas included Education and Health Services (9 of 14).

Not seasonally adjusted data compares January 2020 with January 2019. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 4.0 percent in January 2020 and stood at 12.2 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.0 percent in January 2020 and 10.6 percent in January 2010, at its peak. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment. 

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Metropolitan Area

January  2020*

January 2019**

Over-the-Year Change

Bloomington

3.4%

5.2%

-1.8

Carbondale-Marion

3.9%

5.6%

-1.7

Champaign-Urbana

3.4%

5.2%

-1.8

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights

3.6%

4.7%

-1.1

Danville

4.9%

6.6%

-1.7

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL

4.7%

5.4%

-0.7

Decatur

5.1%

6.7%

-1.6

Elgin

4.7%

6.3%

-1.6

Kankakee

5.4%

7.1%

-1.7

Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI

4.4%

5.6%

-1.2

Peoria

5.0%

6.5%

-1.5

Rockford

8.0%

6.8%

1.2

Springfield

3.8%

5.5%

-1.7

St. Louis (IL-Section)

3.8%

5.5%

-1.7

Illinois Statewide

4.0%

5.3%

-1.3

* Preliminary  I  ** Revised













Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - January 2020

Metropolitan Area

January

January

Over-the-Year

 

2020*

2019**

Change

Bloomington MSA

90,200

90,900

-700

Carbondale-Marion MSA

56,200

56,500

-300

Champaign-Urbana MSA

109,900

107,900

2,000

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division

3,750,300

3,713,900

36,400

Danville MSA

26,800

27,000

-200

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA

183,300

183,900

-600

Decatur MSA

49,300

50,000

-700

Elgin Metro Division

256,100

256,600

-500

Kankakee MSA

45,600

45,000

600

Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division

405,200

411,700

-6,500

Peoria MSA

165,000

168,200

-3,200

Rockford MSA

144,200

150,500

-6,300

Springfield MSA

106,900

108,000

-1,100

Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA

235,700

235,200

500

Illinois Statewide

6,000,500

5,991,400

9,100

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

Labor Market Area

Jan 2020

Jan 2019

Over the Year Change

 
 

St. Louis (IL-Section)

3.8 %

5.5 %

-1.7

 

Bond County

3.7 %

5.7 %

-2.0

 

Calhoun County

4.7 %

6.5 %

-1.8

 

Clinton County

3.2 %

4.6 %

-1.4

 

Jersey County

4.3 %

6.3 %

-2.0

 

Macoupin County

4.2 %

6.2 %

-2.0

 

Madison County

3.6 %

5.3 %

-1.7

 

Monroe County

2.8 %

4.2 %

-1.4

 

St. Clair County

4.0 %

5.8 %

-1.8

 

Cities

 

 

 

 

Alton City

4.4 %

6.9 %

-2.5

 

Belleville City

4.0 %

5.7 %

-1.7

 

Collinsville City

3.8 %

5.7 %

-1.9

 

East St. Louis City

5.9 %

9.4 %

-3.5

 

Edwardsville City

2.6 %

4.0 %

-1.4

 

Granite City

3.7 %

5.5 %

-1.8

 

O'Fallon City

3.6 %

4.8 %

-1.2

 

Counties

 

 

 

 

Greene County

4.2 %

6.0 %

-1.8

 

Randolph County

3.6 %

5.1 %

-1.5

 

Washington County

2.4 %

3.3 %

-0.9

 

Other Areas

 

 

 

 

LWIA 21

4.5 %

6.3 %

-1.8

 

LWIA 22

3.7 %

5.4 %

-1.7

 

LWIA 24

3.7 %

5.3 %

-1.6

 

Southwestern EDR

3.7 %

5.3 %

-1.6

 

Metro East Highlights

The January 2020 unemployment rate for the Illinois Section of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area was 3.8 percent, a decrease of (-1.7%) from the January 2019 rate of 5.5 percent. This is the lowest January unemployment rate on record for the Illinois section of the St. Louis MSA. The data is not seasonally adjusted.

The labor force decreased by -1,742 to 343,024 in January 2020 from 344,766 in January 2019. The number of employed individuals increased by +4,260 to 330,133 in January 2020 from 325,817 in January 2019.   In January 2020, there were 12,891 unemployed people in the labor force. This is a decrease of -6,002 compared to the January 2019 total unemployed, 18,893.

Over the year, nonfarm payrolls increased by (+425).

Employment increased in Professional and Business Services (+825), Government (+650), Construction (+250), and Natural Resources and Mining (+25).

Decreases in employment over the year included Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-475), Educational and Health Services (-275), Information (-125), Financial Activities (-200), Leisure and Hospitality (-100) and Other Services (-100).

 
Note: Monthly 2019 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2020, 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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