Illinois Unemployment Falls Seventh Consecutive Month

CHICAGO - The Illinois unemployment rate fell again in October and the state added +8,000 jobs.

The seasonally adjusted rate fell -0.1 point to 9.8 percent, according to preliminary data released today by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. October is the seventh consecutive month that the unemployment rate has fallen. The national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 9.6 percent.

"As Illinois emerges from the national recession, its unemployment rate has declined for seven consecutive months while employment has grown in nine of the past 10 months. This steady, consistent trend shows Illinois is moving forward," IDES Director Maureen O'Donnell said. "As we move forward, we must continue the successful strategy of intelligent, focused tax incentives and tailored workforce training programs."

Illinois added +8,000 jobs in October, its largest monthly gain in the last six months. Illinois has added +53,700 jobs this year. Compared to October 2009, Illinois added +14,400 jobs, the second consecutive monthly year-over-year increase and the first time since April 2008. Job sectors leading Illinois' growth trend are Professional and Business Services (+18,200); Educational and Health Services (+14,600); Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+8,900); and Manufacturing (+8,600). In October, Construction (+3,000 jobs) and Health Care (+1,300 jobs) reported strong job growth.

The number of unemployed individuals fell in October for the seventh consecutive month, decreasing  10,400 (-1.6 percent) to 648,900, the lowest level reported since April 2009. Total unemployed has declined -115,900 (-17.9 percent) since March 2010. The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. A person who exhausts unemployment insurance benefits, or is ineligible, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.

The IDES supports economic stability by administering unemployment benefits, collecting business contributions to fund those benefits, connecting employers with qualified job seekers, and providing economic information to assist career planning and economic development. It does so through nearly 60 offices, including Illinois workNet centers.

Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Illinois Seasonally Adjusted Nonfarm Jobs - by Major Industry

Notes:

• Illinois monthly labor force, unemployed and unemployment rates for years 1976-2009 have been revised as required by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In February of each year, monthly labor force data for all states are revised to reflect updated Census population controls, seasonal factors and state supplied non-farm jobs and unemployment insurance claims inputs. Comments and tables distributed for prior Illinois unemployment rate news releases should be discarded because any analysis, including records, previously cited might no longer be valid.
• Seasonally adjusted employment data for subsectors within industries are not available.  For not-seasonally adjusted jobs data with greater industry detail, go to http://lmi.ides.state.il.us/cesfiles/cescurrent.htm .
• "Other Services" includes a wide range of activities in three broad categories: Personal and laundry; repair and maintenance; and religious, grant making, civic and professional organizations.
• Monthly seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for Illinois and the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet Metropolitan Division are available at:  http://lmi.ides.state.il.us/laus/icmaur.htm .