Unemployment Rates Down, Jobs Up in Every Metro Area Compared to May 2020

SPRINGFIELD - The number of nonfarm jobs increased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in May 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 decreased over-the-year in all metro areas.

"With reopening activities in full swing throughout the state, today's numbers indicate Illinois is recovering from the hardest hit months of the pandemic a year ago," said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes.  "While IDES continues to support claimants and administer federal unemployment programs, the Department is committed to assisting individuals to reenter the workforce and matching employers with job-seekers."

The number of nonfarm jobs increased in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas. The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Springfield MSA (+9.0%, +8,500), the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (+8.3%, +13,600), and the Champaign-Urbana MSA (+7.8%, +8,400). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago Metro Division rose by +7.3%, +241,400. The industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included: Retail Trade and Leisure &  Hospitality (fourteen areas each); Other Services and Government (twelve areas each); Mining and Construction (eleven areas); Manufacturing, Transportation, Warehousing and Public Utilities and Education & Health Services (ten areas each); and Wholesale Trade and Professional &  Business Service (nine areas each).

Over-the-year, the unemployment rate decreased in all 14 metropolitan areas; the areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were the Rockford MSA (-11.9 points to 8.4%), the Carbondale-Marion MSA (-11.0 points to 5.1%) and the Elgin Metropolitan Division (-10.3 points to 5.3%). The Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division unemployment rate fell -7.9 points to 7.9%. The unemployment rate also decreased over-the-year in all 102 counties.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) -May  2021

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas

Central Illinois Highlights

Decatur MSA

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 6.9 percent in May 2021 from 15.2 percent in May 2020. There were an estimated 3,183 unemployed people in the labor force in May 2021.

The number of total nonfarm jobs in the Decatur metro area increased by +2,800 compared to one year ago.

Employment increased in Leisure and Hospitality (+1,600), Government (+600), Manufacturing (+400), Retail Trade (+300), Other Services (+300), and Construction and Mining (+200).

Payrolls were unchanged in Wholesale Trade, Professional and Business Services, and Information.

May payrolls posted declines in Educational and Health Services (-300), Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities
(-200), and Financial Activities (-100). 

Springfield MSA

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.0 percent in May 2021 from 14.1 percent in May 2020. There were an estimated 5,044 unemployed people in the labor force in May 2021.

The number of total nonfarm jobs in the Springfield metro area increased by +8,500 compared to one year ago.

Payrolls increased in Leisure and Hospitality (+3,400), Educational and Health Services (+1,600), Retail Trade (+1,500), Professional and Business Services (+1,100), Other Services (+600), Information (+300), Mining and Construction (+200), and Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (+100).

No payroll changes were reported in Wholesale Trade.

Payrolls declined in Government (-100), Financial Activities
(-100), and Manufacturing (-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.