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Unemployment Rates Rise in all Metro Areas as COVID-19 Impacts Entire State

Press Release - Friday, May 29, 2020

SPRINGFIELD -The number of nonfarm jobs decreased over-the-year in April in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas, with six metro areas at record low payrolls, 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 that the unemployment rate increased over-the-year in all metro areas to record highs for the month of April as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to impact local areas across the state. The official, BLS approved, sub-state unemployment rate and nonfarm jobs series begins in 1990. Data reported prior to 1990 are not directly comparable due to updates in methodology.

"With every corner of our nation impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is time for the federal government to provide state and local governments with additional relief," said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. "Our administration is focused on helping small businesses rebuild and ensuring working families recover as communities across the state begin safely reopening their economies next week."

Data shows the number of nonfarm jobs decreased in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas. Total nonfarm jobs were down in Peoria (-17.9%, -30,500), Decatur (-17.6%, -9,000) and Rockford (-15.6%, -23,600). Jobs were down -12.8% (-483,200) in Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights. Job losses occurred across all industries and there were no industry sectors that recorded job growth in a majority of metro areas.

Not seasonally adjusted data compares April 2020 with April 2019. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 16.9 percent in April 2020, a record high for the month of April, dating back to 1976. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 14.4 percent in April 2020, also a record high, dating back to 1948. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Metropolitan Area

April 2020*

April 2019**

Over-the-Year Change

Bloomington

12.8%

3.3%

9.5

Carbondale-Marion

17.1%

3.4%

13.7

Champaign-Urbana

10.9%

3.3%

7.6

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights

17.6%

3.5%

14.1

Danville

17.2%

4.3%

12.9

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL

15.2%

3.6%

11.6

Decatur

16.2%

4.5%

11.7

Elgin

16.6%

3.9%

12.7

Kankakee

15.9%

4.4%

11.5

Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI

15.1%

3.7%

11.4

Peoria

17.8%

4.1%

13.7

Rockford

22.4%

4.5%

17.9

Springfield

14.2%

3.5%

10.7

St. Louis (IL-Section)

15.1%

3.5%

11.6

Illinois Statewide

16.9%

3.6%

13.3

* Preliminary  I  ** Revised

 

 

 
















Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - April 2020

Metropolitan Area

April

April

Over-the-Year

 

2020*

2019**

Change

Bloomington MSA

82,600

94,700

-12,100

Carbondale-Marion MSA

52,200

59,300

-7,100

Champaign-Urbana MSA

108,000

117,300

-9,300

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division

3,284,200

3,767,400

-483,200

Danville MSA

24,100

27,400

-3,300

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA

165,400

186,600

-21,200

Decatur MSA

42,100

51,100

-9,000

Elgin Metro Division

223,900

262,100

-38,200

Kankakee MSA

41,800

45,700

-3,900

Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division

365,100

419,000

-53,900

Peoria MSA

140,200

170,700

-30,500

Rockford MSA

127,500

151,100

-23,600

Springfield MSA

97,500

110,000

-12,500

Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA

226,200

241,900

-15,700

Illinois Statewide

5,293,200

6,102,100

-808,900

*Preliminary | **Revised

 

 

 


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

Labor Market Area

Apr 2020

Apr 2019

Over the Year Change

 
 

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division

 

Cook County

18.2 %

3.7 %

14.5

 

DuPage County

14.8 %

2.8 %

12.0

 

Grundy County

17.0 %

4.3 %

12.7

 

Kendall County

16.6 %

3.2 %

13.4

 

McHenry County

16.6 %

3.3 %

13.3

 

Will County

17.5 %

3.7 %

13.8

 

Elgin, IL Metro Division

 

 

 

 

DeKalb County

15.1 %

3.5 %

11.6

 

Kane County

16.9 %

3.9 %

13.0

 

Lake & Kenosha, IL-WI Metro Division

 

 

Lake County (IL)

14.8 %

3.7 %

11.1

 

Kankakee, IL MSA

 

 

 

 

Kankakee County

15.9 %

4.4 %

11.5

 

Cities

 

 

 

 

Aurora City

15.7 %

3.6 %

12.1

 

Chicago City

18.9 %

3.8 %

15.1

 

Elgin City

19.0 %

4.7 %

14.3

 

Joliet City

19.8 %

4.6 %

15.2

 

Kankakee City

17.5 %

5.9 %

11.6

 

Naperville City

12.4 %

2.7 %

9.7

 

* Unemployment rates for cities with total population of 25,000 or more can be found at https://www2.illinois.gov/ides/lmi/Pages/Local_Area_Unemployment_Statistics.aspx


Kankakee, IL MSA

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 15.9 percent in April 2020 from 4.4 percent in April 2019. The April 2020 unemployment rate is the highest April unemployment rate on record.

Total nonfarm employment decreased -3,900 compared to April 2019. The Leisure-Hospitality (-800), Manufacturing (-700), and Educational-Health Services (-600) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 17.6 percent in April 2020 from 3.5 percent in April 2019.  The April 2020 unemployment rate is the highest April unemployment rate on record.

Total nonfarm employment decreased -483,200 compared to April 2019.  The Leisure-Hospitality (-200,500), Professional-Business Services (-64,700), Retail Trade (-47,000), and Educational-Health Services (-44,100) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.

Elgin, IL Metro Division

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 16.6 percent in April 2020 from 3.9 percent in April 2019. The April 2020 unemployment rate is the highest April unemployment rate on record.

Total nonfarm employment decreased -38,200 compared to April 2019. The Leisure-Hospitality (-12,400), Educational-Health Services (-4,900), and Manufacturing (-4,500) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.

Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 15.1 percent in April 2020 from 3.7 percent in April 2019. The April 2020 unemployment rate is the highest April unemployment rate on record.
 
Total nonfarm employment decreased -53,900 compared to April 2019. Leisure-Hospitality (-19,500), Professional-Business Services (-10,700), and Retail Trade (-8,100) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.


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. The official monthly unemployment rate series for metro areas, counties and most cities begins in 1990. The official monthly nonfarm jobs series for metro areas begins in 1990 and for non-metropolitan counties it begins in 1999.

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