Press Release - Thursday, October 27, 2022
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Unemployment Rates Down and Jobs Up in All 14 Metro Areas
SPRINGFIELD - For the fourth straight month, the unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in September 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.
"Illinois continues to see steady job growth throughout the state," said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. "As unemployment insurance claims remain at record lows, the state labor market is ripe with opportunity for every type of jobseeker."
The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Chicago Metro (+4.7%, +169,900), the Rockford MSA (+4.4%, +6,100), the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (+3.9%, +7,000) and the Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI Metropolitan Division (+3.9% +16,000). Industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included: Mining and Construction and Manufacturing (fourteen areas each); Leisure and Hospitality (thirteen areas); Other Services (twelve areas); Wholesale Trade (eleven areas); Professional and Business Services, Education and Health Services, and Government (ten areas each); and Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (eight areas).
The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were the Rockford MSA (-1.8 points to 5.9%) and the Decatur MSA (-1.3 points to 5.7%). The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in 92 counties, increased in 5, and was unchanged in 5.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
| Metropolitan Area | September 2022* | September 2021** | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 3.4% | 3.9% | -0.5 |
| Carbondale-Marion | 3.9% | 4.9% | -1.0 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 3.5% | 4.2% | -0.7 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 4.7% | 5.3% | -0.6 |
| Danville | 5.0% | 5.8% | -0.8 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 3.4% | 4.4% | -1.0 |
| Decatur | 5.7% | 7.0% | -1.3 |
| Elgin | 4.1% | 4.9% | -0.8 |
| Kankakee | 5.1% | 5.7% | -0.6 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 3.6% | 4.2% | -0.6 |
| Peoria | 4.4% | 5.1% | -0.7 |
| Rockford | 5.9% | 7.7% | -1.8 |
| Springfield | 3.8% | 4.8% | -1.0 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) | 3.8% | 4.5% | -0.7 |
| Illinois Statewide | 4.4% | 5.1% | -0.7 |
| * Preliminary I ** Revised |
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Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - September 2022
| Metropolitan Area | September | September | Over-the-Year |
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| 2022* | 2021** | Change |
| Bloomington MSA | 94,200 | 91,800 | 2,400 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 57,800 | 56,100 | 1,700 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 117,600 | 116,000 | 1,600 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,803,000 | 3,633,100 | 169,900 |
| Danville MSA | 26,300 | 25,700 | 600 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 186,400 | 179,400 | 7,000 |
| Decatur MSA | 48,900 | 48,000 | 900 |
| Elgin Metro Division | 255,900 | 248,000 | 7,900 |
| Kankakee MSA | 43,000 | 42,000 | 1,000 |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 426,100 | 410,100 | 16,000 |
| Peoria MSA | 168,900 | 164,600 | 4,300 |
| Rockford MSA | 146,000 | 139,900 | 6,100 |
| Springfield MSA | 109,600 | 105,800 | 3,800 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 239,400 | 237,800 | 1,600 |
| Illinois Statewide | 6,109,400 | 5,871,700 | 237,700 |
| *Preliminary | **Revised |
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Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
| Labor Market Area | Sep 2022 | Sep 2021 | Over the Year Change |
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| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA | |||||
| Henry County | 3.6 % | 3.9 % | -0.3 | ||
| Mercer County | 3.2 % | 3.5 % | -0.3 | ||
| Rock Island County | 4.0 % | 4.5 % | -0.5 | ||
| Cities |
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| Galesburg City | 5.6 % | 6.3 % | -0.7 | ||
| Moline City | 4.0 % | 4.3 % | -0.3 | ||
| Rock Island City | 4.2 % | 5.1 % | -0.9 | ||
| Counties |
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| Bureau County | 3.8 % | 4.0 % | -0.2 | ||
| Fulton County | 4.3 % | 4.6 % | -0.3 | ||
| Henderson County | 3.2 % | 3.2 % | 0.0 | ||
| Knox County | 5.0 % | 5.6 % | -0.6 | ||
| Stark County | 3.9 % | 4.4 % | -0.5 | ||
| Warren County | 3.5 % | 4.0 % | -0.5 | ||
| Whiteside County | 3.6 % | 4.0 % | -0.4 | ||
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 3.4 percent in September 2022 from 4.4 percent in September 2021. The last time the September rate was equal to or lower was in 1998 when it was 2.7 percent.
Total nonfarm employment increased +7,000 compared to September 2021.
Leisure-Hospitality (+3,000), Professional-Business Services (+1,700), Government (+1,200), and Retail Trade (+900) had the largest payroll gains over the year. The Educational-Health Services (-1,200) sector recorded the largest employment decline 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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