Press Release - Thursday, April 22, 2021
Press Releases
No Data
Unemployment Rates Up, Jobs Down for Every Metro Area Compared to Last March
SPRINGFIELD - The number of nonfarm jobs decreased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in March, 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 moves through pandemic recovery and the economy begins to heal itself, the major focus remains on assisting claimants and providing support to those still impacted," said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. "IDES remains committed to administering benefits and providing job-matching services to individuals dislocated from their jobs as a result of the pandemic and eager to jump back into the workforce."
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 Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (-7.5%, -280,400), the Kankakee MSA (-7.1%, -3,200), and the Decatur MSA (-6.3%, -3,100). Three metro areas recorded their lowest total nonfarm jobs for the month of March 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 (+3.8 points to 7.7%), Decatur MSA (+3.4 points to 8.6%), the Rockford MSA (+2.8 points to 8.1%). The not seasonally adjusted Illinois unemployment rate was 7.1 percent in March 2021. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in March 2021.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
Metropolitan Area | March 2021* | March 2020** | Over-the-Year Change | |
Bloomington | 5.0% | 3.2% | 1.8 | |
Carbondale-Marion | 6.1% | 3.7% | 2.4 | |
Champaign-Urbana | 4.9% | 3.0% | 1.9 | |
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 7.7% | 3.9% | 3.8 | |
Danville | 6.9% | 4.3% | 2.6 | |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 5.9% | 4.4% | 1.5 | |
Decatur | 8.6% | 5.2% | 3.4 | |
Elgin | 7.0% | 4.5% | 2.5 | |
Kankakee | 7.5% | 4.9% | 2.6 | |
Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 6.2% | 4.3% | 1.9 | |
Peoria | 6.9% | 4.5% | 2.4 | |
Rockford | 8.1% | 5.3% | 2.8 | |
Springfield | 6.3% | 3.6% | 2.7 | |
St. Louis (IL-Section) | 5.6% | 3.4% | 2.2 | |
Illinois Statewide | 7.1% | 4.0% | 3.1 | |
* Preliminary I ** Revised |
|
|
| |
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - March 2021
Metropolitan Area | March | March | Over-the-Year |
| 2021* | 2020** | Change |
Bloomington MSA | 86,400 | 91,900 | -5,500 |
Carbondale-Marion MSA | 55,100 | 57,800 | -2,700 |
Champaign-Urbana MSA | 116,200 | 117,900 | -1,700 |
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,461,600 | 3,742,000 | -280,400 |
Danville MSA | 26,300 | 27,000 | -700 |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 174,700 | 182,900 | -8,200 |
Decatur MSA | 46,100 | 49,200 | -3,100 |
Elgin Metro Division | 237,600 | 253,400 | -15,800 |
Kankakee MSA | 41,900 | 45,100 | -3,200 |
Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 391,800 | 410,800 | -19,000 |
Peoria MSA | 157,600 | 167,300 | -9,700 |
Rockford MSA | 137,500 | 145,600 | -8,100 |
Springfield MSA | 101,000 | 106,600 | -5,600 |
Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 227,000 | 238,000 | -11,000 |
Illinois Statewide | 5,661,500 | 6,020,300 | -358,800 |
*Preliminary |**Revised |
|
|
|
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
Labor Market Area | Mar 2021 | Mar 2020 | Over the Year Change |
| |
Decatur MSA |
|
|
| ||
Macon County | 8.6 % | 5.2 % | 3.4 | ||
Springfield MSA |
|
|
| ||
Menard County | 5.0 % | 3.7 % | 1.3 | ||
Sangamon County | 6.3 % | 3.6 % | 2.7 | ||
Cities |
|
|
| ||
Decatur City | 10.3 % | 5.8 % | 4.5 | ||
Rock Island City | 6.6 % | 4.5 % | 2.1 | ||
Springfield City | 7.1 % | 3.7 % | 3.4 | ||
Counties |
|
|
| ||
Adams County | 4.4 % | 3.0 % | 1.4 | ||
Brown County | 2.7 % | 2.1 % | 0.6 | ||
Calhoun County | 5.2 % | 4.0 % | 1.2 | ||
Christian County | 6.3 % | 4.7 % | 1.6 | ||
De Witt County | 5.4 % | 3.7 % | 1.7 | ||
Greene County | 5.0 % | 3.6 % | 1.4 | ||
Hancock County | 5.3 % | 4.7 % | 0.6 | ||
Jersey County | 4.7 % | 3.7 % | 1.0 | ||
Logan County | 5.2 % | 3.8 % | 1.4 | ||
McDonough County | 5.3 % | 4.7 % | 0.6 | ||
Macoupin County | 5.0 % | 3.9 % | 1.1 | ||
Montgomery County | 6.4 % | 5.2 % | 1.2 | ||
Morgan County | 5.5 % | 3.8 % | 1.7 | ||
Moultrie County | 3.9 % | 2.7 % | 1.2 | ||
Piatt County | 4.3 % | 2.8 % | 1.5 | ||
Pike County | 4.8 % | 4.4 % | 0.4 | ||
Schuyler County | 4.9 % | 4.2 % | 0.7 | ||
Scott County | 6.0 % | 4.9 % | 1.1 | ||
Shelby County | 4.8 % | 3.4 % | 1.4 | ||
Other Areas |
|
|
| ||
LWIA 19 | 8.2 % | 5.0 % | 3.2 | ||
LWIA 20 | 6.1 % | 3.8 % | 2.3 | ||
LWIA 21 | 5.4 % | 4.0 % | 1.4 | ||
Central EDR | 6.4 % | 4.1 % | 2.3 |
Central Illinois Highlights
Decatur MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 8.6 percent in March 2021 from 5.2 percent in March 2020. There were an estimated 3,888 unemployed people in the labor force in March 2021.
The number of total nonfarm jobs in the Decatur metro area decreased by -3,100 compared to one year ago.
Payrolls were unchanged in Wholesale Trade, Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities, Professional and Business Services, and Information.
March payrolls posted declines in Educational and Health Services (-1,300), Leisure and Hospitality (-500), Government (-400), Construction and Mining (-300), Other Services (-200), and Manufacturing (-200), Financial Activities (-100), and Retail Trade (-100).
Springfield MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 6.3 percent in March 2021 from 3.6 percent in March 2020. There were an estimated 6,219 unemployed people in the labor force in March 2021.
The number of total nonfarm jobs in the Springfield metro area decreased by -5,600 compared to one year ago.
Payrolls increased in Professional and Business Services (+600) compared to March 2020.
March payrolls posted declines in Leisure and Hospitality (-1,700), Government (-1,200), Educational and Health Services (-1,200), Information (-800), Manufacturing (-400), Financial Activities (-300), Other Services (-200), Retail Trade (-200), Mining and Construction (-100), and Wholesale Trade (-100).
Note: Monthly 2020 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2021, 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.
Press Releases
No Data