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Illinois Still Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic, Unemployment Rates Up Compared to Last Year

Press Release - Thursday, September 24, 2020

SPRINGFIELD -The number of nonfarm jobs decreased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in August, with five metro areas at record low payrolls for that month, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). The unemployment rate increased over-the-year in all metro areas and to record highs for the month of August in two metros. 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 the state's COVID-19 mitigation plan in place, we are working hard to keep people safe while restoring confidence in and strengthening our economy," said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. "IDES is continuing to work tirelessly to support working families by connecting them to job training and workforce matching programs and ensuring benefits get to those impacted by this pandemic."
 
The number of nonfarm jobs decreased in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas. Total nonfarm jobs were down in Peoria (-11.0%, -19,000), Elgin (-9.7%, -25,300) and Decatur (-8.4%, -4,300). In Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, jobs were down -7.6% (-291,600). No industry sector saw job gains in a majority of metro areas.

Not seasonally adjusted data compares August 2020 with August 2019. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 10.9 percent in August 2020 and the highest August unemployment rate since 1983, when it was 11.3 percent. The official, BLS approved, statewide unemployment rate series begins in 1976. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.5 percent in August 2020 and the highest August unemployment rate since 2011, when it was 9.1. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Metropolitan Area

August 2020*

August 2019**

Over-the-Year Change

Bloomington

7.2%

3.8%

3.4

Carbondale-Marion

8.5%

4.2%

4.3

Champaign-Urbana

7.4%

3.9%

3.5

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights

12.6%

3.8%

8.8

Danville

9.3%

5.5%

3.8

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL

8.1%

4.1%

4.0

Decatur

11.2%

5.4%

5.8

Elgin

9.5%

4.1%

5.4

Kankakee

8.9%

4.6%

4.3

Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI

8.3%

3.9%

4.4

Peoria

9.6%

4.6%

5.0

Rockford

11.3%

5.9%

5.4

Springfield

8.5%

4.0%

4.5

St. Louis (IL-Section)

8.6%

4.1%

4.5

Illinois Statewide

10.9%

4.0%

6.9

* Preliminary  I  ** Revised

 

 

 















Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - August 2020

Metropolitan Area

August

August

Over-the-Year

 

2020*

2019**

Change

Bloomington MSA

85,200

91,400

-6,200

Carbondale-Marion MSA

54,200

56,900

-2,700

Champaign-Urbana MSA

103,300

107,900

-4,600

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division

3,537,600

3,829,200

-291,600

Danville MSA

25,900

27,100

-1,200

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA

174,500

189,300

-14,800

Decatur MSA

46,600

50,900

-4,300

Elgin Metro Division

236,000

261,300

-25,300

Kankakee MSA

44,100

46,000

-1,900

Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division

390,600

425,900

-35,300

Peoria MSA

153,500

172,500

-19,000

Rockford MSA

138,900

150,800

-11,900

Springfield MSA

104,200

112,100

-7,900

Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA

227,400

241,300

-13,900

Illinois Statewide

5,705,900

6,143,200

-437,300

*Preliminary | **Revised

 

 

 


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

Labor Market Area

Aug 2020

Aug 2019

Over the Year Change

 
 

Carbondale-Marion MSA

8.5 %

4.2 %

4.3

 

Jackson County

8.5 %

3.8 %

4.7

 

Williamson County

8.5 %

4.4 %

4.1

 

Surrounding Counties

 

 

 

 

Alexander County

10.8 %

6.4 %

4.4

 

Franklin County

10.1 %

5.6 %

4.5

 

Johnson County

9.1 %

5.7 %

3.4

 

Massac County

9.4 %

5.6 %

3.8

 

Perry County

8.6 %

5.1 %

3.5

 

Pulaski County

11.1 %

6.5 %

4.6

 

Randolph County

6.7 %

3.3 %

3.4

 

Union County

7.8 %

5.0 %

2.8

 

Harrisburg Area

 

 

 

 

Gallatin County

8.9 %

5.2 %

3.7

 

Hamilton County

5.9 %

3.9 %

2.0

 

Hardin County

10.0 %

6.7 %

3.3

 

Pope County

7.8 %

5.6 %

2.2

 

Saline County

10.5 %

5.5 %

5.0

 

White County

6.8 %

4.0 %

2.8

 

Olney - Mt. Carmel Area

 

 

 

Edwards County

6.3 %

4.0 %

2.3

 

Lawrence County

7.9 %

5.2 %

2.7

 

Richland County

6.9 %

4.1 %

2.8

 

Wabash County

6.3 %

4.0 %

2.3

 

Wayne County

7.3 %

4.8 %

2.5

 

Other Areas

 

 

 

 

LWIA 23

7.5 %

4.0 %

3.5

 

LWIA 24

8.7 %

4.1 %

4.6

 

LWIA 25

8.9 %

4.6 %

4.3

 

LWIA 26

8.2 %

5.0 %

3.2

 

Southern EDR

8.6 %

4.7 %

3.9

 


Southern Illinois Highlights

Carbondale - Marion Area

The August 2020 unemployment rate was 8.5 percent.  This was an increase of +4.3 percentage points from the August 2019 rate of 4.2 percent. Nonfarm employment in August 2020 decreased (-2,700) compared to last August.

Employment losses were posted in Government (-700).

Surrounding Counties

Nonfarm employment decreased by -2,125 compared to August 2019.

August payrolls posted declines in Leisure and Hospitality (-675), Manufacturing (-350), Educational and Health Services (-275), Government (-275), Other Services (-175), Professional and Business Services (-175), Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-75), Natural Resources and Mining (-75), Financial Activities (-50), and Construction (-25).
 
No employment changes were reported in Information.  

Harrisburg Area

Nonfarm employment decreased by -1,025 compared to August 2019.

Employment gains were posted in Professional & Business Services (+25), Information (+25), and Financial Activities (+25).

Employment declined in Leisure and Hospitality (-275), Natural Resources and Mining (-200), Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-200), Manufacturing (-150), Other Services (-100), Educational and Health Services (-75), and Government (-75), and Construction (-50).

Olney - Mt. Carmel Area 

Nonfarm employment decreased by -950 compared to August 2019.

Employment gains were posted in Natural Resources and Mining (+25), and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+25).
Employment declined in Manufacturing (-275), Leisure and Hospitality (-275), Government (-125), Other Services (-100), Educational and Health Services (-100), Financial Activities (-25), and Professional and Business Services (-25). No employment changes were reported in Construction and Information.  


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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