Illinois Department of Employment Security issued the following announcement on Jan. 25.
Unemployment rates increased over-the-year in December in thirteen of Illinois's metropolitan areas, and decreased in one, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). Data also show nonfarm jobs increased in twelve of the metropolitan areas.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
| Metropolitan Area | Dec. 2018 | Dec. 2017 | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 4.5% | 3.6% | 0.9 |
| Carbondale-Marion | 5.2% | 4.3% | 0.9 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 4.4% | 3.7% | 0.7 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 3.6% | 4.9% | -1.3 |
| Danville | 6.4% | 5.7% | 0.7 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 4.5% | 4.1% | 0.4 |
| Decatur | 6.2% | 5.1% | 1.1 |
| Elgin | 5.7% | 4.4% | 1.3 |
| Kankakee | 5.9% | 5.0% | 0.9 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 4.9% | 4.0% | 0.9 |
| Peoria | 5.7% | 4.8% | 0.9 |
| Rockford | 6.3% | 4.9% | 1.4 |
| Springfield | 5.0% | 3.9% | 1.1 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) | 4.9% | 4.1% | 0.8 |
| Illinois Statewide | 4.4% | 4.7% | -0.3 |
| * Data subject to revision. | |||
Illinois businesses added jobs in twelve metro areas, with the largest percentage increases in: Kankakee (+5.0 percent, +2,400), Lake-Kenosha (+2.3 percent, +9,700), Davenport-Moline-Rock Island (+1.2 percent, +2,200), and Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights (+1.1 percent, +41,500). The Springfield MSA saw a decrease over-the-year (-0.4 percent, -400).
The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas included Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (10 of 14), Education and Health Services (10 of 14), Leisure and Hospitality (10 of 14), Mining and Construction (9 of 14), Manufacturing (9 of 14), Professional and Business Services (9 of 14), and Wholesale Trade (8 of 14).
Not seasonally adjusted data compares December 2018 with December 2017. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 4.4 percent in December 2018 and stood at 12.2 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in December 2018 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.
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - December 2018
| Metropolitan Area | December
2018* | December
2017** | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington MSA | 94,100 | 94,100 | 0 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 57,700 | 57,600 | 100 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 113,400 | 112,500 | 900 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,817,800 | 3,776,300 | 41,500 |
| Danville MSA | 28,400 | 28,300 | 100 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 189,300 | 187,100 | 2,200 |
| Decatur MSA | 52,000 | 51,500 | 500 |
| Elgin Metro Division | 263,200 | 260,900 | 2,300 |
| Kankakee MSA | 50,400 | 48,000 | 2,400 |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 426,200 | 416,500 | 9,700 |
| Peoria MSA | 172,600 | 172,200 | 400 |
| Rockford MSA | 153,900 | 153,000 | 900 |
| Springfield MSA | 112,500 | 112,900 | -400 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 242,600 | 241,300 | 1,300 |
| Illinois Statewide | 6,189,400 | 6,117,400 | 72,000 |
| *Preliminary **Revised |
Original source can be found here.
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