Unemployment Rates Down for the Ninth Consecutive Month, Jobs Up in Most Metro Areas

SPRINGFIELD - The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in December for the ninth consecutive 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 thirteen metro areas and down in one.

"We are pleased to see continued positive economic trends across Illinois," said Deputy Governor Andy Manar.  "The Pritzker administration and IDES are committed to sustaining this growth, and connecting employers and job seekers across all sectors of the state's economy."

The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Carbondale-Marion MSA (+5.9%, +3,300), the Kankakee MSA (+5.7%, +2,400), and the Rockford MSA (+4.8%, +6,600). Jobs were down in the Bloomington MSA (-0.7%, -600). The industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included: Leisure and Hospitality and Other Services (thirteen areas each); Government (twelve areas); Wholesale Trade and Transportation, Warehousing and Public Utilities (eleven areas each); Manufacturing, Professional and Business Services, and Education and Health Services (ten areas each).

The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (-4.2 points to 4.5%), the Decatur MSA   (-3.5 points to 5.7%) and the Springfield MSA (-3.4 points to 3.9%). The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in all 102 counties for the second straight month.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - December 2021

Rockford MSA

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 6.3 percent in December 2021 from 8.2 percent in December 2020. The last time the December rate was equal to or lower was in 2019 when it was 5.0 percent. 

Total nonfarm employment increased by +6,600 over the year. 

The largest payroll gains over the year were in Leisure-Hospitality (+2,300), Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+2,000), Manufacturing (+900), Government (+800), and Construction (+700). The Professional-Business Services (-1,000) sector recorded employment declines over the year.

Ogle County

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 4.4 percent in December 2021 from 6.5 percent in December 2020. The last time the December rate was equal to or lower was in 2019 when it was 4.4 percent. 

Total nonfarm employment increased +225 over the year. 

Construction (+225), Other Services (+50), Professional-Business Services (+50), and Leisure-Hospitality (+50) had the largest payroll gains over the year. Trade-Transportation-Utilities    (-125) and Manufacturing (-50) sectors recorded the largest employment declines over the year.

Stephenson County  

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 4.1 percent in December 2021 from 6.6 percent in December 2020. The last time the December rate was equal to or lower was in 2019 when it was 3.6 percent. 

Total nonfarm employment increased +275 over the year.
 
Government (+125), Leisure-Hospitality (+75), and Manufacturing (+50) had the largest payroll gains over the year.  All other industries held steady over the year.

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.