Press Release - Thursday, April 02, 2020
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Unemployment Rate Down in February for All Fourteen Metros Amidst Ongoing Surge of Unemployment Claims as a Result of COVID-19
SPRINGFIELD -While the unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in February in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas and all 102 counties, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), the department continues to receive an unprecedented number of unemployment claims as a result of COVID-19.
"This administration is fully committed to the health and safety of our workforce and ensuring our workers can provide for their families in this challenging time," said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. "As we navigate this period of economic uncertainty, we will continue to champion policies that will lift up every Illinoisan while making investments that will help to strengthen our economy."
Data also shows the number of nonfarm jobs decreased in nine Illinois metropolitan areas and increased in five. Illinois businesses added jobs in five metro areas, with the largest percentage increases in Kankakee (+2.2%, +1,000), Champaign-Urbana (+1.8%, +2,100) and Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights (+1.0%, +37,500). Total nonfarm jobs were down in Rockford (-3.5%, -5,200), Peoria (-1.8%, -3,000) and Lake-Kenosha (-1.2%, -5,100). The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas included Education and Health Services (11 of 14).
Not seasonally adjusted data compares February 2020 with February 2019. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 3.5 percent in February 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 3.8 percent in February 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 | February 2020* | February 2019** | Over-the-Year Change |
Bloomington | 2.8% | 4.5% | -1.7 |
Carbondale-Marion | 3.1% | 4.7% | -1.6 |
Champaign-Urbana | 2.7% | 4.4% | -1.7 |
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 3.4% | 4.2% | -0.8 |
Danville | 4.1% | 5.9% | -1.8 |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 4.0% | 4.8% | -0.8 |
Decatur | 4.3% | 5.9% | -1.6 |
Elgin | 4.0% | 5.6% | -1.6 |
Kankakee | 4.5% | 6.3% | -1.8 |
Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 3.9% | 5.2% | -1.3 |
Peoria | 4.2% | 5.8% | -1.6 |
Rockford | 4.8% | 6.1% | -1.3 |
Springfield | 3.2% | 4.9% | -1.7 |
St. Louis (IL-Section) | 3.2% | 4.8% | -1.6 |
Illinois Statewide | 3.5% | 4.7% | -1.2 |
* Preliminary | ** Revised |
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Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - February 2020
Metropolitan Area | February | February | Over-the-Year |
| 2020* | 2019** | Change |
Bloomington MSA | 91,400 | 92,400 | -1,000 |
Carbondale-Marion MSA | 57,700 | 58,100 | -400 |
Champaign-Urbana MSA | 117,400 | 115,300 | 2,100 |
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,754,000 | 3,716,500 | 37,500 |
Danville MSA | 26,900 | 27,100 | -200 |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 182,700 | 183,300 | -600 |
Decatur MSA | 49,400 | 49,900 | -500 |
Elgin Metro Division | 257,200 | 257,100 | 100 |
Kankakee MSA | 45,600 | 44,600 | 1,000 |
Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 406,800 | 411,900 | -5,100 |
Peoria MSA | 164,900 | 167,900 | -3,000 |
Rockford MSA | 144,800 | 150,000 | -5,200 |
Springfield MSA | 107,500 | 108,300 | -800 |
Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 236,900 | 236,500 | 400 |
Illinois Statewide | 6,022,300 | 6,005,900 | 16,400 |
*Preliminary | **Revised |
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Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
Labor Market Area | Feb 2020 | Feb 2019 | Over the Year Change | |
Matoon-Charleston Area |
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Clark County | 4.0 % | 6.1 % | -2.1 | |
Coles County | 2.8 % | 4.6 % | -1.8 | |
Cumberland County | 3.0 % | 4.8 % | -1.8 | |
Douglas County | 2.6 % | 4.3 % | -1.7 | |
Edgar County | 3.3 % | 5.0 % | -1.7 | |
Moultrie County | 2.5 % | 3.8 % | -1.3 | |
Shelby County | 3.3 % | 4.6 % | -1.3 | |
Effingham Area |
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Clay County | 4.3 % | 5.7 % | -1.4 | |
Crawford County | 3.5 % | 5.3 % | -1.8 | |
Effingham County | 2.8 % | 4.1 % | -1.3 | |
Fayette County | 4.0 % | 5.8 % | -1.8 | |
Jasper County | 3.6 % | 5.7 % | -2.1 | |
Centralia - Mt. Vernon Area |
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Clinton County | 2.7 % | 4.2 % | -1.5 | |
Hamilton County | 3.2 % | 5.0 % | -1.8 | |
Jefferson County | 3.6 % | 5.2 % | -1.6 | |
Marion County | 3.6 % | 5.0 % | -1.4 | |
Washington County | 2.0 % | 2.9 % | -0.9 | |
Wayne County | 3.8 % | 5.8 % | -2.0 | |
Other Areas |
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LWIA 21 | 3.8 % | 5.4 % | -1.6 | |
LWIA 23 | 3.3 % | 5.0 % | -1.7 | |
LWIA 24 | 3.1 % | 4.7 % | -1.6 | |
LWIA 25 | 3.5 % | 5.1 % | -1.6 | |
LWIA 26 | 4.2 % | 6.1 % | -1.9 | |
Southeastern EDR | 3.3 % | 5.0 % | -1.7 |
South Central Illinois Highlights
Mattoon - Charleston Area
February non-farm employment decreased by (-375) since February 2020.
Employment gains were posted in Financial Activities (+225), Construction (+200), Information (+125) and Natural Resources and Mining (+25).
Employment decreased in Manufacturing (-525), Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-200), Leisure and Hospitality (-75), Educational and Health Services (-75), Professional and Business Services (-50), and Other Services (-25).
Effingham Area
Non-farm employment increased by +200 compared to last year.
Employment gains were posted in Construction (+200), Leisure and Hospitality (+50), Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+50), Other Services (+50), Natural Resources and Mining (+25), and Information (+25).
Decreases were reported in Educational and Health Services (-50) and Government (-50) while Manufacturing remained unchanged.
Centralia - Mt. Vernon Area
Non-farm employment decreased by (-325) since last February.
Employment gains were posted in Government (+200), Other Services (+100) and Manufacturing (+50).
Employment decreased in Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-300), and Leisure and Hospitality (-175). Slight employment decreases were posted in Information, Construction, Financial Activities, and Professional and Business Services.
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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