Unemployment Rates Increase in All Metro Areas
First time in six years unemployment rate up in every county
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
| Metropolitan Area | April 2016 | April 2015 | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 5.4% | 3.9% | 1.5 |
| Carbondale-Marion | 6.3% | 5.0% | 1.3 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 5.3% | 4.2% | 1.1 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 6.3% | 5.7% | 0.6 |
| Danville | 7.5% | 6.0% | 1.5 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 5.8% | 5.0% | 0.8 |
| Decatur | 7.1% | 5.9% | 1.2 |
| Elgin | 5.8% | 4.9% | 0.9 |
| Kankakee | 6.8% | 5.9% | 0.9 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 5.4% | 4.7% | 0.7 |
| Peoria | 6.9% | 5.3% | 1.6 |
| Rockford | 6.9% | 6.0% | 0.9 |
| Springfield | 5.1% | 4.4% | 0.7 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) | 6.1% | 5.1% | 1.0 |
| Illinois Statewide | 6.2% | 5.4% | 0.8 |
* Data subject to revision. |
CHICAGO–All metropolitan areas in Illinois experienced over- the-year unemployment rate increases for the third consecutive month, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).
“Illinois is tied for the highest unemployment rate in the nation, even though in prior months, some areas have experienced relatively low unemployment rates,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “This is the first time since January 2010 that every county has had over-the-year increases in their unemployment rate. This is significant in helping to determine true economic conditions across all regions of the state.”
Illinois businesses added jobs in eight metros, in which the largest increases were seen in: Lake-Kenosha (+3.1 percent, +12,200), Rockford (+2.2 percent, +3,300), and Springfield (+1.5, +1,700). Total nonfarm jobs in theChicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division increased (+1.5 percent or +55,000). Illinois businesses lost jobs in six metro areas including Bloomington (-2.7 percent, -2,600), Carbondale-Marion (-1.7 percent, -1,000), and the Quad Cities (-1.6 percent, -2,900). The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metros were: Education and Health Services (11 of 14), Retail Trade (10 of 14), Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities (eight of 14), Leisure and Hospitality (eight of 14), Other Services (eight of 14), and Government (eight of 14).
Not seasonally adjusted data compares April 2016 with April 2015. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 6.2 percent in April 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 4.7 percent in April 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.
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – April 2016
| Metropolitan Area | April | April | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington MSA | 94,300 | 96,900 | -2,600 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 58,000 | 59,000 | -1,000 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 111,700 | 110,800 | 900 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,677,800 | 3,622,800 | 55,000 |
| Danville MSA | 29,600 | 29,400 | 200 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 180,600 | 183,500 | -2,900 |
| Decatur MSA | 50,700 | 51,200 | -500 |
| Elgin Metro Division | 258,100 | 254,900 | 3,200 |
| Kankakee MSA | 44,800 | 44,900 | -100 |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 411,700 | 399,500 | 12,200 |
| Peoria MSA | 177,300 | 178,500 | -1,200 |
| Rockford MSA | 154,000 | 150,700 | 3,300 |
| Springfield MSA | 114,400 | 112,700 | 1,700 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 237,600 | 236,100 | 1,500 |
| Illinois Statewide | 5,992,200 | 5,935,400 | 56,800 |
| *Preliminary **Revised | |||
(continued)
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
| Labor Market Area | Apr-16 | Apr-15 | Over-the-Year Change |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin IL-IN-WI MSA | 6.2% | 5.6% | 0.6 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division | |||
| Cook County | 6.5% | 6.0% | 0.5 |
| DuPage County | 5.1% | 4.5% | 0.6 |
| Grundy County | 7.0% | 6.3% | 0.7 |
| Kendall County | 5.5% | 4.9% | 0.6 |
| McHenry County | 5.7% | 5.2% | 0.5 |
| Will County | 6.4% | 5.9% | 0.5 |
| Elgin, IL Metro Division | |||
| DeKalb County | 5.7% | 4.7% | 1.0 |
| Kane County | 5.8% | 4.9% | 0.9 |
| Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division | |||
| Lake County | 5.5% | 4.6% | 0.9 |
| Cities (with total population of at least 100,000) * | |||
| Aurora City | 5.7% | 5.1% | 0.6 |
| Chicago City | 6.9% | 6.3% | 0.6 |
| Elgin City | 4.7% | 3.6% | 1.1 |
| Joliet City | 5.9% | 4.7% | 1.2 |
| Naperville City | 5.0% | 4.5% | 0.5 |
* Unemployment rates for cities with total population of 25,000 or more can be found atwww.ides.illinois.gov/LMI/Pages/Current_Monthly_Unemployment_Rates.aspx
Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 5.4 percent in April 2016 from 4.7 percent in April 2015. For the month of April 2016, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 24,700.
Total nonfarm employment increased +12,200 compared to April 2015. Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+3,400) Wholesale Trade (+1,900), Leisure-Hospitality (+1,700), Professional-Business Services (+1,500) and Retail Trade (+1,000) reported the largest payroll gains. The Educational-Health Services (-100) sector recorded an employment decline compared to one year ago.
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 6.3 percent in April 2016 from 5.7 percent in April 2015. For the month of April 2016, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 241,800.
Total nonfarm employment increased +55,000 compared to April 2015. Educational-Health Services (+14,400), Leisure-Hospitality (+14,100), Professional-Business Services (+9,500), and Government (+8,800) reported the largest payroll gains. The Wholesale Trade (-2,100) sector recorded employment declines compared to one year ago.
Elgin, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 5.8 percent in April 2016 from 4.9 percent in April 2015. For the month of April 2016, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 18,700.
Total nonfarm employment increased +3,200 compared to April 2015. Retail Trade (+1,300), Construction (+1,200), and Leisure-Hospitality (+800) reported the largest payroll gains. The Wholesale Trade (-500), Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (-200) and Financial Activities (-200) sectors declined compared to one year ago.
