Press Release - Thursday, September 23, 2021
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Unemployment Rates Down for the Fifth Straight Month, Jobs Up in Most Metro Areas
SPRINGFIELD - The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in August for the fifth straight month according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). Jobs were up in all metro areas, with the exception of the Bloomington Metropolitan Statistical Area.
"As reopening and recovery efforts continue to impact metro areas across the state, IDES is committed to continuing to assist both claimants and jobseekers who are still looking to reenter the workforce," said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. "Claimants are encouraged to utilize IllinoisJobLink.com to search for work opportunities and take advantage of assistance the Department can provide with workforce development, including job trainings and resume building."
Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs increased in thirteen metropolitan areas and decreased in one (Bloomington MSA,-0.6%, -500). The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Springfield MSA (+3.5%, +3,600); the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (+3.1%, +5,400), the Chicago Metro Division (+2.9%, +102,200) and the Peoria MSA (+2.9%, +4,700). The industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included: Leisure and Hospitality (fourteen areas); Transportation, Warehousing and Public Utilities (eleven areas); Other Services and Government (ten areas each); Manufacturing and Educational and Health Services (nine areas each).
Over-the-year, the unemployment rate decreased in all 14 metropolitan areas; the metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (-5.5 points to 7.5%), the Elgin Metropolitan Division (-3.2 points to 6.1%) and the Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI Metropolitan Division (-2.7 points to 5.3%). The unemployment rate also decreased over-the-year in all 102 counties for the fifth consecutive month.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
Metropolitan Area | August 2021* | August 2020** | Over-the-Year Change |
Bloomington | 5.2% | 6.8% | -1.6 |
Carbondale-Marion | 6.0% | 8.3% | -2.3 |
Champaign-Urbana | 5.6% | 7.0% | -1.4 |
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 7.5% | 13.0% | -5.5 |
Danville | 7.1% | 8.9% | -1.8 |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 5.1% | 7.5% | -2.4 |
Decatur | 8.2% | 10.6% | -2.4 |
Elgin | 6.1% | 9.3% | -3.2 |
Kankakee | 6.7% | 9.0% | -2.3 |
Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 5.3% | 8.0% | -2.7 |
Peoria | 6.3% | 8.9% | -2.6 |
Rockford | 8.3% | 10.9% | -2.6 |
Springfield | 5.8% | 8.4% | -2.6 |
St. Louis (IL-Section) | 5.7% | 8.3% | -2.6 |
Illinois Statewide | 6.8% | 11.0% | -4.2 |
* Preliminary I ** Revised |
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Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) -August 2021
| August | August | Over-the-Year |
Metropolitan Area | 2021* | 2020** | Change |
Bloomington MSA | 86,500 | 87,000 | -500 |
Carbondale-Marion MSA | 55,200 | 53,700 | 1,500 |
Champaign-Urbana MSA | 108,700 | 105,700 | 3,000 |
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,587,500 | 3,485,300 | 102,200 |
Danville MSA | 26,200 | 25,600 | 600 |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 177,400 | 172,000 | 5,400 |
Decatur MSA | 48,200 | 47,200 | 1,000 |
Elgin Metro Division | 240,500 | 236,900 | 3,600 |
Kankakee MSA | 43,000 | 42,400 | 600 |
Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 408,600 | 397,300 | 11,300 |
Peoria MSA | 165,400 | 160,700 | 4,700 |
Rockford MSA | 140,400 | 138,400 | 2,000 |
Springfield MSA | 105,200 | 101,600 | 3,600 |
Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 230,700 | 229,800 | 900 |
Illinois Statewide | 5,817,300 | 5,652,400 | 164,900 |
*Preliminary | **Revised |
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Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
Labor Market Area | Aug 2021 | Aug 2020 | Over the Year Change | |
Decatur MSA |
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Macon County | 8.2 % | 10.6 % | -2.4 | |
Springfield MSA |
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Menard County | 4.1 % | 5.9 % | -1.8 | |
Sangamon County | 5.9 % | 8.5 % | -2.6 | |
Cities |
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Decatur City | 9.8 % | 12.7 % | -2.9 | |
Rock Island City | 6.2 % | 10.0 % | -3.8 | |
Springfield City | 6.7 % | 9.7 % | -3.0 | |
Counties |
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Adams County | 4.3 % | 6.2 % | -1.9 | |
Brown County | 3.1 % | 3.8 % | -0.7 | |
Calhoun County | 4.8 % | 6.7 % | -1.9 | |
Christian County | 5.9 % | 8.4 % | -2.5 | |
De Witt County | 5.1 % | 6.7 % | -1.6 | |
Greene County | 5.4 % | 6.7 % | -1.3 | |
Hancock County | 4.4 % | 6.4 % | -2.0 | |
Jersey County | 4.8 % | 7.0 % | -2.2 | |
Logan County | 5.2 % | 6.8 % | -1.6 | |
McDonough County | 5.8 % | 7.8 % | -2.0 | |
Macoupin County | 4.9 % | 6.7 % | -1.8 | |
Montgomery County | 5.8 % | 8.4 % | -2.6 | |
Morgan County | 5.5 % | 7.2 % | -1.7 | |
Moultrie County | 3.8 % | 5.3 % | -1.5 | |
Piatt County | 4.8 % | 5.5 % | -0.7 | |
Pike County | 4.5 % | 5.6 % | -1.1 | |
Schuyler County | 4.4 % | 5.5 % | -1.1 | |
Scott County | 4.9 % | 5.8 % | -0.9 | |
Shelby County | 4.4 % | 6.4 % | -2.0 | |
Other Areas |
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LWIA 19 | 7.8 % | 10.1 % | -2.3 | |
LWIA 20 | 5.8 % | 8.2 % | -2.4 | |
LWIA 21 | 5.1 % | 7.0 % | -1.9 | |
Central EDR | 6.1 % | 8.3 % | -2.2 |
Central Illinois Highlights
Decatur MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 8.2 percent in August 2021 from 10.6 percent in August 2020. There were an estimated 3,871 unemployed people in the labor force in August 2021.
The number of total nonfarm jobs in the Decatur metro area increased by +1,000 compared to one year ago.
Employment increased in Government (+600), Manufacturing (+500), Leisure and Hospitality (+400), Other Services (+200), and Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities (+100).
Payrolls were unchanged in Professional and Business Services and Information.
June payrolls declined in Educational and Health Services (-300), Construction and Mining (-200), Financial Activities (-100), Wholesale Trade (-100), and Retail Trade (-100).
Springfield MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.8 percent in August 2021 from 8.4 percent in August 2020. There were an estimated 6,075 unemployed people in the labor force in August 2021.
The number of total nonfarm jobs in the Springfield metro area increased by +3,600 compared to one year ago.
Payrolls increased in Leisure and Hospitality (+2,300), Professional and Business Services (+500), Retail Trade (+400), Information (+400), Other Services (+400), Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities (+200) and Educational and Health Services (+100).
No payroll changes were reported in Wholesale Trade. Payrolls declined in Government (-200), Manufacturing (-200), Mining and Construction (-200), and Financial Activities (-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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