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Jobs Up, Unemployment Rates Down in All 14 Metro Areas

Press Release - Thursday, September 22, 2022

SPRINGFIELD - The unemployment rate decreased in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in August according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). Jobs increased in all metros.

"Economic recovery, jobs growth, and consistent historically low unemployment claims data continues to signal a strong labor market throughout the state," said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. "Whether you're returning to the workforce or looking to switch career fields, the State of Illinois offers a suite of workforce development and job and training resources to those who are looking for it."

The metro areas with the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Rockford MSA (+5.2%, +7,200), the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights MSA (+4.8%, +172,600), and the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (+4.2%, +7,500). Industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included: Mining and Construction and Leisure and Hospitality (fourteen areas each); Manufacturing (thirteen areas); Professional and Business Services and Education and Health Services (eleven areas each); Government (ten areas); Wholesale Trade, Retail Trade, Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities, and Other Services (nine areas each).

The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (-1.6 points to 5.0%), the Carbondale-Marion MSA (-1.3 points to 4.5%), and the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (-1.3 points to 3.8%). The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in 97 counties, increased in 2, and was unchanged in 3.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Metropolitan Area

August 2022*

August 2021**

Over-the-Year Change

Bloomington

3.9%

4.8%

-0.9

Carbondale-Marion

4.5%

5.8%

-1.3

Champaign-Urbana

4.3%

5.3%

-1.0

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights

5.0%

6.6%

-1.6

Danville

5.7%

6.8%

-1.1

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL

3.8%

5.1%

-1.3

Decatur

6.5%

7.7%

-1.2

Elgin

4.7%

5.6%

-0.9

Kankakee

5.9%

6.5%

-0.6

Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI

4.0%

4.9%

-0.9

Peoria

4.9%

5.9%

-1.0

Rockford

6.8%

7.8%

-1.0

Springfield

4.3%

5.4%

-1.1

St. Louis (IL-Section)

4.3%

5.4%

-1.1

Illinois Statewide

4.8%

6.1%

-1.3

* Preliminary  I  ** Revised

 

 

 
















Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - August 2022

Metropolitan Area

August

August

Over-the-Year

 

2022*

2021**

Change

Bloomington MSA

93,700

90,200

3,500

Carbondale-Marion MSA

56,600

54,500

2,100

Champaign-Urbana MSA

109,800

107,200

2,600

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division

3,805,500

3,632,900

172,600

Danville MSA

26,300

25,600

700

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA

186,600

179,100

7,500

Decatur MSA

48,700

48,100

600

Elgin Metro Division

253,300

245,400

7,900

Kankakee MSA

42,700

41,900

800

Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division

427,100

412,600

14,500

Peoria MSA

169,300

165,600

3,700

Rockford MSA

146,800

139,600

7,200

Springfield MSA

110,100

106,500

3,600

Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA

237,000

236,400

600

Illinois Statewide

6,078,300

5,845,200

233,100

*Preliminary | **Revised

 

 

 


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


Labor Market Area

Aug 2022

Aug 2021

Over the Year Change

 

 
   

Bloomington MSA

 

 

 

   

De Witt County

4.0 %

4.7 %

-0.7

   

McLean County

3.9 %

4.8 %

-0.9

   

Peoria MSA

 

 

 

   

Marshall County

4.8 %

5.3 %

-0.5

   

Peoria County

5.8 %

7.2 %

-1.4

   

Stark County

4.4 %

5.3 %

-0.9

   

Tazewell County

4.2 %

4.9 %

-0.7

   

Woodford County

3.4 %

3.9 %

-0.5

   

Ottawa-Streator Area

4.8 %

5.4 %

-0.6

   

Bureau County

4.3 %

4.7 %

-0.4

   

LaSalle County

5.0 %

5.7 %

-0.7

   

Putnam County

4.7 %

4.6 %

0.1

   

Galesburg Area

 

 

 

   

Knox County

5.5 %

6.7 %

-1.2

   

Cities

 

 

 

   

Bloomington City

4.0 %

5.3 %

-1.3

   

Galesburg City

6.2 %

7.3 %

-1.1

   

Normal Town

3.9 %

4.6 %

-0.7

   

Pekin City

5.2 %

6.0 %

-0.8

   

Peoria City

6.2 %

8.0 %

-1.8

   

Counties & Areas

 

 

 

   

Fulton County

5.0 %

5.5 %

-0.5

   

Hancock County

4.1 %

4.1 %

0.0

   

Henderson County

3.8 %

3.8 %

0.0

   

Henry County

4.0 %

4.5 %

-0.5

   

Livingston County

4.0 %

4.8 %

-0.8

   

Logan County

4.4 %

4.9 %

-0.5

   

Mason County

4.9 %

5.5 %

-0.6

   

Warren County

4.1 %

4.8 %

-0.7

   

LWIA 14

4.2 %

4.8 %

-0.6

   


Central Illinois Highlights

Bloomington MSA: The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 3.9 percent in August 2022 from 4.8 percent in August 2021.

Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased by +3,500. Government (+900), Construction (+600), Leisure-Hospitality (+600), and Retail Trade (+500) had the largest payroll gains over the year. No sectors had employment declines from a year ago.

Peoria MSA: The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 4.9 percent in August 2022 from 5.9 percent in August 2021.

Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased by +3,700. The largest decline was reported in Educational-Health Services (-400). Professional-Business Services (+1,200), Government (+1,000), and Manufacturing (+1,000) had the largest payroll gains over the year.

Ottawa-Streator Area: The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 4.8 percent in August 2022 from 5.4 percent in August 2021. Over the year, nonfarm payrolls decreased by -325. Trade-Transportation-Utilities (-200), Professional-Business Services (-175), and Educational-Health Services (-150) posted the largest declines. Government (+200), Other Services (+75), and Leisure-Hospitality (+50) had payroll gains over the year.

Galesburg Area-Knox County: The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.5 percent in August 2022 from 6.7 percent in August 2021. Over the year, nonfarm payrolls decreased by -75. The largest employment gains were reported in the Government sector (+125) from a year ago. Educational-Health Services (-150) and Trade-Transportation-Utilities (-125) had the largest payroll declines over the year.

Pontiac Area-Livingston County: The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 4.0 percent in August 2022 from 4.8 percent in August 2021.

Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased by +50. Educational-Health Services (-75) posted the largest declines from a year ago. Manufacturing (+100) and Trade-Transportation-Utilities (+75) had the largest payroll gains over the year.


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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