Unemployment rates show slight increase in half of Metro Areas

Oct 27, 2016 12:49 PM Oct 27, 2016 12:50 PM

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Job growth remains sluggish

CHICAGO–This month, seven of Illinois’ metropolitan (metro) areas experienced increases in their over-the-year unemployment rate and eight of the metro areas had increases in nonfarm jobs, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).

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“The state is still experiencing not nearly enough growth,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “While the unemployment rate is slightly increased from a year ago, it’s not nearly enough growth as we continue to lose ground to other parts of the country.”

Illinois businesses added jobs in eight metro areas, in which the largest increases were seen in: Rockford (+1.7 percent, +2,600), Champaign-Urbana (+1.5 percent, +1,700), Elgin (+1.4 percent, +3,700), and Lake-Kenosha (+1.4 percent, +5,800). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division increased (+1.1 percent or +40,300). Illinois businesses lost jobs in six metro areas including Carbondale-Marion (-3.4 percent, -2,000), Bloomington (-2.4 percent, -2,300), and the Quad Cities (-2.3 percent, -4,300). The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas were: Education and Health Services (10 of 14), and Other Services (nine of 14).

Not seasonally adjusted data compares September 2016 with September 2015. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 5.4 percent in September 2016 and stood at 12.2 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in September 2016 and 10.6 percent in January 2010 at its peak. The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and looking for work, and is not tied to collecting unemployment insurance benefits.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

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Metropolitan Area	Sept. 2016	Sept. 2015	Over-the-Year Change
Bloomington	5.1%	4.6%	0.5
Carbondale-Marion	6.0%	5.7%	0.3
Champaign-Urbana	4.9%	4.8%	0.1
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights	5.2%	5.1%	0.1
Danville	7.2%	6.9%	0.3
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	5.9%	5.1%	0.8
Decatur	6.7%	6.7%	-0-
Elgin	5.2%	5.3%	-0.1
Kankakee	6.2%	6.3%	-0.1
Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI	4.8%	4.8%	-0-
Peoria	6.4%	6.0%	0.4
Rockford	6.6%	6.7%	-0.1
Springfield	4.8%	4.9%	-0.1
St. Louis (IL-Section)	5.7%	5.8%	-0.1
Illinois Statewide	5.4%	5.3%	0.1
* Data subject to revision.

Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - September 2016

Metropolitan Area	Sept. 2016*	Sept. 2015**	Over-the-Year Change
Bloomington MSA	93,700	96,000	-2,300
Carbondale-Marion MSA	56,500	58,500	-2,000
Champaign-Urbana MSA	112,100	110,400	1,700
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division	3,715,200	3,674,900	40,300
Danville MSA	29,200	29,400	-200
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA	180,000	184,300	-4,300
Decatur MSA	51,500	52,000	-500
Elgin Metro Division	262,000	258,300	3,700
Kankakee MSA	45,500	45,400	100
Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division	417,600	411,800	5,800
Peoria MSA	176,700	179,000	-2,300
Rockford MSA	155,900	153,300	2,600
Springfield MSA	115,600	114,500	1,100
Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA	239,100	237,300	1,800
Illinois Statewide	6,051,600	6,008,900	42,700
	Preliminary *Revised

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