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 | |
Carbondale-Marion MSA | 5.4 % | 3.7 % | 1.7 | |
Jackson County | 5.3 % | 3.4 % | 1.9 | |
Williamson County | 5.4 % | 4.0 % | 1.4 | |
Surrounding Counties |
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Alexander County | 7.0 % | 5.7 % | 1.3 | |
Franklin County | 6.4 % | 5.1 % | 1.3 | |
Johnson County | 6.2 % | 5.5 % | 0.7 | |
Massac County | 6.0 % | 5.5 % | 0.5 | |
Perry County | 5.4 % | 4.6 % | 0.8 | |
Pulaski County | 8.1 % | 6.2 % | 1.9 | |
Randolph County | 4.5 % | 3.5 % | 1.0 | |
Union County | 5.5 % | 5.8 % | -0.3 | |
Harrisburg Area |
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Gallatin County | 5.5 % | 4.5 % | 1.0 | |
Hamilton County | 3.8 % | 3.2 % | 0.6 | |
Hardin County | 6.3 % | 6.1 % | 0.2 | |
Pope County | 5.0 % | 5.3 % | -0.3 | |
Saline County | 6.6 % | 5.0 % | 1.6 | |
White County | 4.3 % | 3.8 % | 0.5 | |
Olney - Mt. Carmel Area |
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Edwards County | 5.1 % | 4.3 % | 0.8 | |
Lawrence County | 6.1 % | 5.4 % | 0.7 | |
Richland County | 4.7 % | 3.8 % | 0.9 | |
Wabash County | 4.4 % | 3.0 % | 1.4 | |
Wayne County | 4.5 % | 4.3 % | 0.2 | |
Other Areas |
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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 | |
Southern EDR | 5.5 % | 4.3 % | 1.2 |
Southern Illinois Highlights
Carbondale - Marion Area
The December 2020 unemployment rate was 5.4 percent. This was an increase of +1.7 percentage points from the December 2019 rate of 3.7 percent. Total nonfarm employment in December 2020 decreased (-2,600) compared to last December.
Employment losses were posted in Government (-600).
Surrounding Counties
Total nonfarm employment decreased by -2,050 compared to December 2019.
December payrolls declined in Leisure and Hospitality (-600), Educational and Health Services (-300), Manufacturing (-300), Government (-275), Professional and Business Services (-200), Other Services (-175), Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-100), Construction (-75), and Financial Activities (-25).
Information employment increased (+25), while there was no change in Natural Resources and Mining employment.
Harrisburg Area
Total nonfarm employment decreased by -850 compared to December 2019.
Employment gains were posted in Information (+25), and Government (+25).
Employment declined in Leisure and Hospitality (-275), Natural Resources and Mining (-200), Manufacturing (-175), Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-100), Other Services (-100), Educational and Health Services (-25), Professional and Business Services (-25) and Construction (-25). There was no change in Financial Activities employment.
Olney - Mt. Carmel Area
Total nonfarm employment decreased by -875 compared to December 2019.
Employment gains were posted in Natural Resources and Mining (+25).
Employment declined in Leisure and Hospitality (-275), Manufacturing (-225), Educational and Health Services (-150), Other Services (-125), Government (-100), Financial Activities (-50), Professional and Business Services (-25), and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-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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