Prairie State Wire

Over the past year, total nonfarm jobs increased in eleven metropolitan areas and decreased in three for the year ending October 2023. This data was released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES). During this period, unemployment rates rose in thirteen metropolitan areas and fell in one.

Deputy Governor Andy Manar commented on these developments: "With consistent gains in payroll jobs, jobseekers and employers continue to find new opportunities to land their next jobs and fill open positions." He also noted that ongoing investments in workforce development and resources provided by IDES contribute significantly to strengthening the Illinois labor market.

The Danville MSA saw a 3.0% increase, adding 800 jobs; the Elgin Metro Division grew by 2.2%, adding 5,900 jobs; and Springfield MSA experienced a 1.6% rise with an additional 1,800 jobs. The Chicago Metro added 26,200 jobs, marking a 0.7% increase. Conversely, job numbers declined in Kankakee MSA by 1.1% (500 fewer jobs), Decatur MSA by 0.8% (400 fewer jobs), and Rockford MSA by 0.8% (1,200 fewer jobs).

Industries such as Government; Education and Health Services; Leisure and Hospitality; and Other Services showed job growth across various metro areas.

Unemployment rate increases were most notable in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (+1.5 percentage points to 4.9%), Decatur MSA (+1.2 percentage points to 6.1%), and Rockford MSA (+1.2 points to 6.1%). Meanwhile, the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division saw its unemployment rate decrease slightly by -0.1 point to reach 4.4%.