Press Release - Thursday, January 28, 2021
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Unemployment Rates Up, Jobs Down in All Metro Areas Across the State of Illinois
SPRINGFIELD - The number of nonfarm jobs decreased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in December, 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 Illinois works to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic with the ongoing vaccine rollout, IDES remains committed to supporting displaced workers and families by offering support and services to those who need it," said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. "The Pritzker administration and IDES continue to work with the U.S. Department of Labor to implement the new federal unemployment program changes as seamlessly as possible to ensure claimants have access to benefits for which they are eligible to receive."
The number of nonfarm jobs decreased in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas. The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Peoria MSA (-9.6%, -16,300), the Elgin Metropolitan Division (-9.2%, -24,100) and the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (-7.4%, -284,800). Three metro areas recorded their lowest total nonfarm jobs for the month of December on record (dating back to 1990).
Over-the-year, the unemployment rate increased in all 14 metropolitan areas; the metro areas with the largest unemployment rate increases were the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (+5.9 points to 8.7%), the Decatur MSA (+3.0 points to 8.2%) and the Springfield MSA (+2.5 points to 6.3%). The not seasonally adjusted Illinois unemployment rate was 7.5 percent in December 2020. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in December 2020.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
Metropolitan Area | December 2020* | December 2019** | Over-the-Year Change |
Bloomington | 5.2% | 3.3% | 1.9 |
Carbondale-Marion | 5.4% | 3.7% | 1.7 |
Champaign-Urbana | 5.0% | 3.2% | 1.8 |
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 8.7% | 2.8% | 5.9 |
Danville | 6.4% | 5.2% | 1.2 |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 5.1% | 4.4% | 0.7 |
Decatur | 8.2% | 5.2% | 3.0 |
Elgin | 6.5% | 4.4% | 2.1 |
Kankakee | 6.4% | 5.4% | 1.0 |
Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 6.2% | 4.1% | 2.1 |
Peoria | 6.8% | 4.7% | 2.1 |
Rockford | 7.3% | 5.8% | 1.5 |
Springfield | 6.3% | 3.8% | 2.5 |
St. Louis (IL-Section) | 5.4% | 3.7% | 1.7 |
Illinois Statewide | 7.5% | 3.5% | 4.0 |
* Preliminary I **Revised |
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - December 2020
Metropolitan Area | December | December | Over-the-Year |
| 2020* | 2019** | Change |
Bloomington MSA | 87,500 | 93,100 | -5,600 |
Carbondale-Marion MSA | 56,000 | 58,600 | -2,600 |
Champaign-Urbana MSA | 114,300 | 119,200 | -4,900 |
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,544,200 | 3,829,000 | -284,800 |
Danville MSA | 26,500 | 27,500 | -1,000 |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 177,700 | 187,200 | -9,500 |
Decatur MSA | 46,800 | 50,400 | -3,600 |
Elgin Metro Division | 238,400 | 262,500 | -24,100 |
Kankakee MSA | 44,200 | 46,800 | -2,600 |
Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 389,300 | 418,000 | -28,700 |
Peoria MSA | 152,800 | 169,100 | -16,300 |
Rockford MSA | 138,300 | 148,800 | -10,500 |
Springfield MSA | 103,400 | 109,200 | -5,800 |
Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 234,300 | 244,000 | -9,700 |
Illinois Statewide | 5,731,000 | 6,150,100 | -419,100 |
*Preliminary | **Revised |
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Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
Labor Market Area | Dec 2020 | Dec 2019 | Over the Year Change | |
Decatur MSA |
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Macon County | 8.2 % | 5.2 % | 3.0 | |
Springfield MSA |
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Menard County | 4.9 % | 3.6 % | 1.3 | |
Sangamon County | 6.4 % | 3.8 % | 2.6 | |
Cities |
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Decatur City | 9.6 % | 5.8 % | 3.8 | |
Rock Island City | 6.3 % | 5.1 % | 1.2 | |
Springfield City | 7.2 % | 3.9 % | 3.3 | |
Counties |
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Adams County | 4.6 % | 3.2 % | 1.4 | |
Brown County | 2.6 % | 2.2 % | 0.4 | |
Calhoun County | 5.3 % | 4.7 % | 0.6 | |
Christian County | 5.7 % | 4.9 % | 0.8 | |
De Witt County | 5.7 % | 3.9 % | 1.8 | |
Greene County | 4.9 % | 3.8 % | 1.1 | |
Hancock County | 4.3 % | 4.3 % | 0.0 | |
Jersey County | 5.2 % | 4.1 % | 1.1 | |
Logan County | 5.3 % | 4.0 % | 1.3 | |
McDonough County | 5.2 % | 3.7 % | 1.5 | |
Macoupin County | 4.9 % | 4.1 % | 0.8 | |
Montgomery County | 5.9 % | 5.7 % | 0.2 | |
Morgan County | 5.3 % | 4.1 % | 1.2 | |
Moultrie County | 3.8 % | 2.9 % | 0.9 | |
Piatt County | 4.2 % | 3.2 % | 1.0 | |
Pike County | 4.3 % | 4.5 % | -0.2 | |
Schuyler County | 4.8 % | 4.6 % | 0.2 | |
Scott County | 5.2 % | 5.4 % | -0.2 | |
Shelby County | 4.5 % | 3.9 % | 0.6 | |
Other Areas |
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LWIA 19 | 7.8 % | 5.0 % | 2.8 | |
LWIA 20 | 6.1 % | 3.9 % | 2.2 | |
LWIA 21 | 5.1 % | 4.4 % | 0.7 | |
Central EDR | 6.2 % | 4.3 % | 1.9 |
Central Illinois Highlights
Decatur MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 8.2 percent in December 2020 from 5.2 percent in December 2019. There were an estimated 3,738 unemployed people in the labor force in December 2020.
The number of total nonfarm jobs in the Decatur metro area decreased by -3,600 compared to one year ago.
Payrolls increased in Retail Trade (+400), Other Services (+300), and Government (+100).
December job losses included Leisure and Hospitality (-1,400), Educational and Health Services (-1,000), Construction and Mining (-600), Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (-500), Manufacturing (-300), Professional and Business Services (-300), Financial Activities (-100), Wholesale Trade (-100), and Information (-100).
Springfield MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 6.3 percent in December 2020 from 3.8 percent in December 2019. There were an estimated 6,490 unemployed people in the labor force in December 2020.
The number of total nonfarm jobs in the Springfield metro area decreased by -5,800 compared to one year ago.
Payrolls increased in Retail Trade (+1,100). Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities showed no change in employment compared to November 2019.
December payrolls posted declines in Leisure and Hospitality (-3,100), Government (-1,100), Professional and Business Services (-600), Manufacturing (-600), Mining and Construction (-400), Other Services (-400), Financial Activities (-300), Educational and Health Services (-200), Information (-100) and Wholesale Trade (-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. 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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