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Unemployment Rates Up, Jobs Down for Every Metro Area Compared to Last March

Press Release - Thursday, April 22, 2021

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

 

 
  

St. Louis (IL-Section)

5.6 %

3.4 %

2.2

  

Bond County

4.9 %

3.3 %

1.6

  

Calhoun County

5.2 %

4.0 %

1.2

  

Clinton County

3.7 %

2.7 %

1.0

  

Jersey County

4.7 %

3.7 %

1.0

  

Macoupin County

5.0 %

3.9 %

1.1

  

Madison County

5.4 %

3.3 %

2.1

  

Monroe County

3.3 %

2.5 %

0.8

  

St. Clair County

6.7 %

3.7 %

3.0

  

Cities

 

 

 

  

Alton City

8.2 %

3.9 %

4.3

  

Belleville City

7.2 %

3.8 %

3.4

  

Collinsville City

5.8 %

3.4 %

2.4

  

East St. Louis City

12.0 %

5.3 %

6.7

  

Edwardsville City

3.6 %

2.4 %

1.2

  

Granite City

7.0 %

3.7 %

3.3

  

O'Fallon City

5.2 %

3.4 %

1.8

  

Counties

 

 

 

  

Greene County

5.0 %

3.6 %

1.4

  

Randolph County

4.4 %

3.1 %

1.3

  

Washington County

2.7 %

2.1 %

0.6

  

Other Areas

 

 

 

  

LWIA 21

5.4 %

4.0 %

1.4

  

LWIA 22

5.3 %

3.3 %

2.0

  

LWIA 24

5.7 %

3.4 %

2.3

  

Southwestern EDR

5.5 %

3.4 %

2.1

  

Metro East Highlights

The March 2021 unemployment rate for the Illinois Section of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area was 5.6 percent.  The over-the-year rate increased +2.2 percentage points from the March 2020 rate of 3.4 percent. The data is not seasonally adjusted.

The labor force decreased by -10,472 to 325,502 in March 2021 from 335,974 in March 2020. The number of employed individuals decreased by -17,108 to 307,331 in March 2021 from 324,439 in March 2020. In March 2021, there were 18,171 unemployed people in the labor force. This is an increase of +6,636 compared to the 11,535 unemployed in March 2020.

The number of total nonfarm jobs was 227,000 compared to March 2020, which is a decrease of -11,000.

Employment declined in Leisure and Hospitality (-4,600), Educational and Health Services (-3,200), Other Services (-1,000), Mining and Construction (-500), Retail Trade (-500), Manufacturing (-400), Financial Activities (-400), Information (-300), and Wholesale Trade (-300).

Payrolls increased in Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (+2,300), and Professional and Business Services (+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.


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