Illinois Department of Employment Services issued the following announcement on Jan. 30.
The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in December in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas, 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 shows the number of nonfarm jobs increased in ten Illinois metropolitan areas, decreased in three, and was unchanged in one.
"Under Governor Pritzker's leadership, we now have the lowest unemployment rate in state history with the most jobs on record," said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. "The governor is committed to building on this progress by attracting new businesses to Illinois, putting people to work on our infrastructure and creating opportunities for communities that have been left behind for too long."
Illinois businesses added jobs in ten metro areas, with the largest percentage increases in: Champaign (+3.4%, +3,800), Carbondale (+1.9%, +1,100) and Decatur (+1.3%, +700). Total nonfarm jobs were down in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL (-1.3%, -2,500), Peoria (-1.1%, -2,000) and Rockford (-1.0%, -1,500).
The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas included Education and Health Services (10 of 14), Government (10 of 14) and Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (8 of 14).
Not seasonally adjusted data compares December 2019 with December 2018. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 3.5 percent in December 2019 and stood at 12.2 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.4 percent in December 2019 and 10.6 percent in January 2010, at its peak. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
| Metropolitan Area | December 2019* | December
2018** | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 3.4% | 4.7% | -1.3 |
| Carbondale-Marion | 3.7% | 5.2% | -1.5 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 3.3% | 4.6% | -1.3 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 2.8% | 3.6% | -0.8 |
| Danville | 5.3% | 6.7% | -1.4 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 4.5% | 4.7% | -0.2 |
| Decatur | 5.1% | 6.3% | -1.2 |
| Elgin | 4.4% | 5.8% | -1.4 |
| Kankakee | 5.4% | 6.4% | -1.0 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 4.0% | 5.0% | -1.0 |
| Peoria | 4.6% | 5.8% | -1.2 |
| Rockford | 5.8% | 6.4% | -0.6 |
| Springfield | 3.6% | 5.0% | -1.4 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) | 3.7% | 5.1% | -1.4 |
| Illinois Statewide | 3.5% | 4.4% | -0.9 |
| * Preliminary | **Revised | |||
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - December 2019
| Metropolitan Area | December
2019* | December
2018** | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington MSA | 92,600 | 92,200 | 400 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 59,700 | 58,600 | 1,100 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 115,800 | 112,000 | 3,800 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,857,100 | 3,826,800 | 30,300 |
| Danville MSA | 27,600 | 27,600 | 0 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 186,100 | 188,600 | -2,500 |
| Decatur MSA | 52,700 | 52,000 | 700 |
| Elgin Metro Division | 268,300 | 265,800 | 2,500 |
| Kankakee MSA | 47,300 | 46,900 | 400 |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 431,200 | 428,800 | 2,400 |
| Peoria MSA | 174,400 | 176,400 | -2,000 |
| Rockford MSA | 153,300 | 154,800 | -1,500 |
| Springfield MSA | 115,800 | 115,100 | 700 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 245,600 | 242,600 | 3,000 |
| Illinois Statewide | 6,228,000 | 6,183,800 | 44,200 |
| *Preliminary | **Revised |
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
| Labor Market Area | Dec.
2019 | Dec.
2018 | Over-the-Year Change |
| Carbondale - Marion MSA | 3.7% | 5.2% | -1.5% |
| Jackson County | 3.4% | 4.9% | -1.5% |
| Williamson County | 4.0% | 5.5% | -1.5% |
| Surrounding Counties | |||
| Alexander County | 5.5% | 8.1% | -2.6% |
| Franklin County | 4.8% | 6.9% | -2.1% |
| Johnson County | 5.7% | 8.5% | -2.8% |
| Massac County | 5.5% | 7.2% | -1.7% |
| Perry County | 4.5% | 6.4% | -1.9% |
| Pulaski County | 6.3% | 8.7% | -2.4% |
| Randolph County | 3.5% | 4.8% | -1.3% |
| Union County | 5.9% | 7.6% | -1.7% |
| Harrisburg Area | |||
| Gallatin County | 4.4% | 6.0% | -1.6% |
| Hamilton County | 3.0% | 4.5% | -1.5% |
| Hardin County | 5.9% | 8.3% | -2.4% |
| Pope County | 5.1% | 6.9% | -1.8% |
| Saline County | 4.9% | 6.8% | -1.9% |
| White County | 3.8% | 5.0% | -1.2% |
| Olney - Mt. Carmel Area | |||
| Edwards County | 4.2% | 5.8% | -1.6% |
| Lawrence County | 5.4% | 7.2% | -1.8% |
| Richland County | 3.7% | 4.9% | -1.2% |
| Wabash County | 3.0% | 5.0% | -2.0% |
| Wayne County | 4.4% | 5.9% | -1.5% |
| Other Areas | |||
| LWA 23 | 3.8% | 5.3% | -1.5% |
| LWA 24 | 3.7% | 5.0% | -1.3% |
| LWA 25 | 4.1% | 5.7% | -1.6% |
| LWA 26 | 4.7% | 6.5% | -1.8% |
| Southern EDR | 4.3% | 6.0% | -1.7% |
Carbondale - Marion Area
Non-farm employment increased by +1,100 compared to last December.
Employment gains were posted in the Private sector (+800) and Government (+300).
Surrounding Counties
Non-farm employment increased by +900 compared to last December.
Employment gains were posted in Government (+300), Educational & Health Services (+300), Transportation, Warehousing, & Utilities (+100), and Leisure & Hospitality (+100). Slight increases were reported in Professional & Business Services, Retail Trade, Financial Activities, Information, Other Services, and Wholesale Trade.
Slight decreases were reported in Natural Resources & Mining, Construction, and Manufacturing.
Harrisburg Area
Non-farm employment increased by +400 over the year.
Employment gains were posted in Government (+200), Professional & Business Services (+100), Financial Services (+100), and Leisure & Hospitality (+100). Slight increases were reported in Educational & Health Services, Information, Wholesale Trade, Construction, and Manufacturing.
Employment in Retail Trade, Other Services, Natural Resources & Mining, and Transportation, Warehousing, & Utilities declined slightly.
Olney - Mt. Carmel Area
Non-farm employment increased by +500 over the year.
Employment gains were posted in Government (+200), Educational & Health Services (+100), Wholesale Trade (+100), and Retail Trade (+100). Slight employment gains were posted in Transportation, Warehousing, & Utilities, Financial Activities, Natural Resources & Mining, Professional & Business Services, Construction, and Information.
Employment in Other Services, Leisure & Hospitality, and Manufacturing declined slightly.
NOTE: Monthly 2018 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2019, 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.
Original source can be found here.
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