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Unemployment Rates Up, Jobs Down in All Fourteen Metro Areas in October

Press Release - Wednesday, November 25, 2020

SPRINGFIELD - The number of nonfarm jobs decreased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in October, 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. 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.

"As the state works to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 and protect residents from this deadly virus, IDES will continue to provide services to claimants, job-seekers, and employers as fast as possible," said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes.  "We also need the federal government to take action. Every metro area and its claimants will be impacted by the expiration of the federal CARES Act unemployment programs in just a few short weeks and IDES and the Pritzker administration will continue to call on the federal government to provide claimant stability through the end of this pandemic."

The number of nonfarm jobs decreased in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas.  Total nonfarm jobs were down in Peoria (-9.8%, -16,800), Elgin (-9.1%, -24,200) and Rockford (-8.2%, -12,400). In Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, jobs were down 7.2% (-275,700). No industry sector saw job gains in a majority of metro areas.

Not seasonally adjusted data compares October 2020 with October 2019. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in October 2020. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.6 percent in October 2020. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Metropolitan Area

October 2020*

October 2019**

Over-the-Year Change

Bloomington

4.1%

3.4%

0.7

Carbondale-Marion

4.6%

3.7%

0.9

Champaign-Urbana

4.1%

3.4%

0.7

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights

7.8%

3.2%

4.6

Danville

5.6%

4.7%

0.9

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL

4.6%

3.8%

0.8

Decatur

6.7%

4.9%

1.8

Elgin

5.3%

3.7%

1.6

Kankakee

5.2%

4.2%

1.0

Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI

5.1%

3.5%

1.6

Peoria

5.5%

4.2%

1.3

Rockford

6.4%

5.0%

1.4

Springfield

5.0%

3.5%

1.5

St. Louis (IL-Section)

4.7%

3.7%

1.0

Illinois Statewide

6.5%

3.5%

3.0

* Preliminary  I  ** Revised

 

 

 














Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - October 2020

Metropolitan Area

October

October

Over-the-Year

 

2020*

2019**

Change

Bloomington MSA

88,200

94,100

-5,900

Carbondale-Marion MSA

56,600

58,800

-2,200

Champaign-Urbana MSA

115,300

118,700

-3,400

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division

3,560,500

3,836,200

-275,700

Danville MSA

26,400

27,400

-1,000

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA

177,600

189,000

-11,400

Decatur MSA

46,600

50,600

-4,000

Elgin Metro Division

240,400

264,600

-24,200

Kankakee MSA

44,900

46,900

-2,000

Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division

394,200

423,100

-28,900

Peoria MSA

154,800

171,600

-16,800

Rockford MSA

138,600

151,000

-12,400

Springfield MSA

103,900

110,400

-6,500

Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA

233,900

244,200

-10,300

Illinois Statewide

5,766,900

6,178,900

-412,000

*Preliminary | **Revised

 

 

 


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

Labor Market Area

Oct 2020

Oct 2019

Over the Year Change

 
 

St. Louis (IL-Section)

4.7 %

3.7 %

1.0

 

Bond County

3.9 %

3.3 %

0.6

 

Calhoun County

3.6 %

3.9 %

-0.3

 

Clinton County

3.0 %

3.0 %

0.0

 

Jersey County

4.1 %

3.7 %

0.4

 

Macoupin County

3.7 %

3.6 %

0.1

 

Madison County

4.6 %

3.5 %

1.1

 

Monroe County

2.9 %

2.9 %

0.0

 

St. Clair County

5.7 %

4.1 %

1.6

 

Cities

 

 

 

 

Alton City

7.0 %

5.0 %

2.0

 

Belleville City

6.4 %

4.1 %

2.3

 

Collinsville City

4.9 %

3.4 %

1.5

 

East St. Louis City

10.9 %

6.6 %

4.3

 

Edwardsville City

3.4 %

2.8 %

0.6

 

Granite City

6.0 %

4.0 %

2.0

 

O'Fallon City

4.3 %

3.6 %

0.7

 

Counties

 

 

 

 

Greene County

3.8 %

3.7 %

0.1

 

Randolph County

3.6 %

4.3 %

-0.7

 

Washington County

2.5 %

3.3 %

-0.8

 

Other Areas

 

 

 

 

LWIA 21

3.9 %

3.7 %

0.2

 

LWIA 22

4.5 %

3.5 %

1.0

 

LWIA 24

4.8 %

3.8 %

1.0

 

Southwestern EDR

4.7 %

3.7 %

1.0

 

Metro East Highlights

The October 2020 unemployment rate for the Illinois Section of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area was 4.7 percent.  The over-the-year rate increased +1.0 percentage point from the October 2019 rate of 3.7 percent. The data is not seasonally adjusted.

The labor force increased by +3,253 to 351,225 in October 2020 from 347,972 in October 2019. The number of employed individuals decreased by -549 to 334,683 in October 2020 from 335,232 in October 2019. In October 2020, there were 16,542 unemployed people in the labor force. This is an increase of +3,802 compared to the 12,740 unemployed in October 2019.

The number of total nonfarm jobs was 233,900 compared to October 2019, which is a decrease of -10,300.

Employment declined in Leisure and Hospitality (-2,300), Manufacturing (-2,200), Educational and Health Services (-2,200), Other Services (-1,400), Professional and Business Services (-900), Financial Activities (-400), Mining and Construction (-200), and Information (-100), Retail Trade (-100), and Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (-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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