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Unemployment Rates Down, Jobs Up in Nearly All Metros in April

Press Release - Thursday, May 26, 2022

SPRINGFIELD - The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in April 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 one.

"The continued positive trajectory of Illinois' economy is encouraging," said Deputy Governor Andy Manar.  "IDES and the Pritzker Administration are committed to supporting businesses and job seekers as they innovate, grow, and connect all across Illinois."

The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Bloomington MSA (+5.4%, +4,800), the Rockford MSA (+5.2%, +7,200), the Springfield MSA (+4.6%, +4,800), and the Chicago Metropolitan Division (+4.6%, +162,200). The Danville MSA saw no change in total nonfarm jobs. Industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included: Leisure and Hospitality (fourteen areas); Manufacturing (thirteen areas); Other Services (twelve areas); Retail Trade and Government (eleven areas each); Professional and Business Services (ten areas); Transportation, Warehousing and Public Utilities and Education and Health Services (nine areas each).

The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (-2.9 points to 4.1%), the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (-2.1 points to 3.7%), and the Rockford MSA (-1.5 points to 7.7%). The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in 93 counties, increased in seven and was unchanged in two.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Metropolitan Area

April 2022*

April 2021**

Over-the-Year Change

Bloomington

3.8%

4.6%

-0.8

Carbondale-Marion

4.6%

5.5%

-0.9

Champaign-Urbana

4.0%

4.8%

-0.8

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights

4.1%

7.0%

-2.9

Danville

5.8%

6.4%

-0.6

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL

3.7%

5.8%

-2.1

Decatur

7.0%

7.7%

-0.7

Elgin

5.2%

6.1%

-0.9

Kankakee

6.1%

6.6%

-0.5

Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI

4.4%

5.3%

-0.9

Peoria

5.4%

6.1%

-0.7

Rockford

7.7%

9.2%

-1.5

Springfield

4.6%

5.6%

-1.0

St. Louis (IL-Section)

4.3%

5.2%

-0.9

Illinois Statewide

4.4%

6.4%

-2.0

* Preliminary  I  ** Revised

 

 

 
















Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - April 2022

Metropolitan Area

April

April

Over-the-Year

 

2022*

2021**

Change

Bloomington MSA

94,200

89,400

4,800

Carbondale-Marion MSA

58,000

56,200

1,800

Champaign-Urbana MSA

117,300

115,500

1,800

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division

3,712,200

3,550,000

162,200

Danville MSA

25,900

25,900

0

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA

183,600

176,200

7,400

Decatur MSA

48,700

46,800

1,900

Elgin Metro Division

252,000

242,100

9,900

Kankakee MSA

42,700

42,200

500

Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division

414,700

404,600

10,100

Peoria MSA

166,200

162,300

3,900

Rockford MSA

144,400

137,200

7,200

Springfield MSA

108,100

103,300

4,800

Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA

237,300

236,000

1,300

Illinois Statewide

5,990,800

5,760,000

230,800

*Preliminary | **Revised

 

 

 


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

Labor Market Area

Apr 2022

Apr 2021

Over the Year Change

 

 
  

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA

  

Henry County

4.5 %

5.1 %

-0.6

  

Mercer County

4.1 %

5.3 %

-1.2

  

Rock Island County

4.6 %

5.9 %

-1.3

  

Cities

 

 

 

  

Galesburg City

6.2 %

7.1 %

-0.9

  

Moline City

4.5 %

5.8 %

-1.3

  

Rock Island City

4.7 %

6.4 %

-1.7

  

Counties

 

 

 

  

Bureau County

4.7 %

4.9 %

-0.2

  

Fulton County

5.3 %

5.6 %

-0.3

  

Henderson County

4.0 %

4.0 %

0.0

  

Knox County

6.0 %

6.5 %

-0.5

  

Stark County

5.8 %

5.5 %

0.3

  

Warren County

4.2 %

4.4 %

-0.2

  

Whiteside County

4.2 %

4.9 %

-0.7

  


Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 3.7 percent in April 2022 from 5.8 percent in April 2021. The last time the April rate was equal to or lower was in 2019 when it was 3.6 percent.  

Total nonfarm employment increased +7,400 compared to April 2021. 

Leisure-Hospitality (+2,200), Professional-Business Services (+1,900), Manufacturing (+1,500), and Retail Trade (+1,200) had the largest payroll gains over the year. The Educational and Health Services (-700) sector recorded employment declines over the year.

The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. A person who exhausts benefits, or is ineligible, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.

Note:  Monthly 2021 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2022, 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.

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