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 | |
Mattoon-Charleston Area |
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Clark County | 5.0 % | 4.5 % | 0.5 | |
Coles County | 5.4 % | 3.4 % | 2.0 | |
Cumberland County | 4.4 % | 3.2 % | 1.2 | |
Douglas County | 3.9 % | 3.1 % | 0.8 | |
Edgar County | 4.3 % | 4.2 % | 0.1 | |
Moultrie County | 3.8 % | 2.9 % | 0.9 | |
Shelby County | 4.5 % | 3.9 % | 0.6 | |
Effingham Area |
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Clay County | 5.8 % | 4.2 % | 1.6 | |
Crawford County | 5.3 % | 4.3 % | 1.0 | |
Effingham County | 4.2 % | 2.9 % | 1.3 | |
Fayette County | 5.1 % | 4.2 % | 0.9 | |
Jasper County | 4.1 % | 3.9 % | 0.2 | |
Centralia - Mt. Vernon Area |
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Clinton County | 3.7 % | 2.8 % | 0.9 | |
Hamilton County | 3.8 % | 3.2 % | 0.6 | |
Jefferson County | 5.8 % | 4.3 % | 1.5 | |
Marion County | 5.9 % | 4.3 % | 1.6 | |
Washington County | 3.2 % | 2.2 % | 1.0 | |
Wayne County | 4.5 % | 4.3 % | 0.2 | |
Other Areas |
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LWIA 21 | 5.1 % | 4.4 % | 0.7 | |
LWIA 23 | 5.0 % | 3.8 % | 1.2 | |
LWIA 24 | 5.3 % | 3.6 % | 1.7 | |
LWIA 25 | 5.6 % | 4.1 % | 1.5 | |
LWIA 26 | 5.4 % | 4.7 % | 0.7 | |
Southeastern EDR | 5.0 % | 3.8 % | 1.2 |
South Central Illinois Highlights
Mattoon - Charleston Area
December total nonfarm employment decreased by -2,075 compared to one year ago.
Employment gains were posted in Information (+150), Financial Activities (+125), and Construction (+125) and Natural Resources and Mining (+25).
Payrolls decreased in Manufacturing (-675), Educational and Health Services (-525), Leisure and Hospitality (-350), Other Services (-300), Professional and Business Services (-300), and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-200), and Government (-125).
Effingham Area
Total nonfarm employment in December decreased by -1,775 compared to last year.
Employment gains were posted in Construction (+25).
Payrolls declined in Manufacturing (-650), Leisure and Hospitality (-350), Educational and Health Services (-275), Other Services (-200), Professional and Business Services (-150), Government (-100), Financial Activities (-75), and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-50).
Centralia - Mt. Vernon Area
December total nonfarm employment decreased by -3,800 since December 2019.
Employment decreased in Manufacturing (-1,300), Educational and Health Services (-775), Leisure and Hospitality (-775), Other Services (-275), Government (-250), Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-175), Financial Activities (-100), Information (-50), Professional and Business Services (-50), Natural Resources and Mining (-50), and Construction
(-25).
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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