Unemployment Rates Fall in All Metro Areas
Unemployment Rates Remain Higher than National Average in All 14 Illinois Metro Areas
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
| Metropolitan Area | Dec. 2016 | Dec. 2015 | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 5.0% | 5.6% | -0.6 |
| Carbondale-Marion | 5.8% | 6.3% | -0.5 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 4.9% | 5.7% | -0.8 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 5.4% | 5.5% | -0.1 |
| Danville | 7.2% | 7.7% | -0.5 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 5.5% | 5.9% | -0.4 |
| Decatur | 6.4% | 7.5% | -1.1 |
| Elgin | 5.7% | 6.4% | -0.7 |
| Kankakee | 6.5% | 7.3% | -0.8 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 5.3% | 5.9% | -0.6 |
| Peoria | 6.6% | 7.3% | -0.7 |
| Rockford | 6.5% | 7.5% | -1.0 |
| Springfield | 4.9% | 5.6% | -0.7 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) | 5.3% | 6.3% | -1.0 |
| Illinois Statewide | 5.6% | 6.0% | -0.4 |
* Data subject to revision. |
CHICAGO–All of Illinois’ metropolitan (metro) areas experienced declines in their over-the-year unemployment rate. Eight of the metro areas had increases in nonfarm jobs and six reported declines, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).
“Overall job growth continues to lag behind the national average,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “We’re adding jobs at a slower pace now than we were at the beginning of 2016.”
Illinois businesses added jobs in eight metro areas, in which the largest increases were seen in: Rockford (+1.8 percent, +2,700), Kankakee (+1.5 percent, +700), and Lake (+1.2 percent, +4,800). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division increased (+0.6 percent or +22,700). Illinois businesses lost jobs in six metro areas including Carbondale-Marion (-4.2 percent, -2,500), Peoria (-1.7 percent, -3,000), and Bloomington (-1.2 percent, -1,100). The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas were: Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (nine of 14), Education and Health Services (eight of 14), and Government (eight of 14).
Not seasonally adjusted data compares December 2016 with December 2015. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 5.6 percent in December 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 4.5 percent in December 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) – December 2016
| Metropolitan Area | Dec. | Dec. | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington MSA | 94,000 | 95,100 | -1,100 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 56,600 | 59,100 | -2,500 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 111,500 | 110,500 | 1,000 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,722,200 | 3,699,500 | 22,700 |
| Danville MSA | 29,200 | 29,500 | -300 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 179,200 | 181,100 | -1,900 |
| Decatur MSA | 51,500 | 51,900 | -400 |
| Elgin Metro Division | 258,600 | 255,900 | 2,700 |
| Kankakee MSA | 46,300 | 45,600 | 700 |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 411,100 | 406,300 | 4,800 |
| Peoria MSA | 175,700 | 178,700 | -3,000 |
| Rockford MSA | 155,900 | 153,200 | 2,700 |
| Springfield MSA | 115,800 | 114,500 | 1,300 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 238,700 | 236,600 | 2,100 |
| Illinois Statewide | 6,045,700 | 6,017,000 | 28,700 |
| *Preliminary **Revised | |||
(continued)
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
| Labor Market Area | Dec-16 | Dec-15 | Over-the-Year Change |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin IL-IN-WI MSA | 5.4% | 5.7% | -0.3 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division | |||
| Cook County | 5.6% | 5.7% | -0.1 |
| DuPage County | 4.3% | 4.4% | -0.1 |
| Grundy County | 6.6% | 6.7% | -0.1 |
| Kendall County | 4.8% | 4.9% | -0.1 |
| McHenry County | 5.1% | 5.2% | -0.1 |
| Will County | 5.6% | 5.7% | -0.1 |
| Elgin, IL Metro Division | |||
| DeKalb County | 5.3% | 6.0% | -0.7 |
| Kane County | 5.8% | 6.5% | -0.7 |
| Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division | |||
| Lake County | 5.6% | 6.2% | -0.6 |
| Cities (with total population of at least 100,000) * | |||
| Aurora City | 5.4% | 6.1% | -0.7 |
| Chicago City | 5.9% | 6.0% | -0.1 |
| Elgin City | 7.7% | 8.3% | -0.6 |
| Joliet City | 7.2% | 7.2% | 0.0 |
| Naperville City | 4.1% | 4.1% | 0.0 |
* Unemployment rates for cities with total population of 25,000 or more can be found at www.ides.illinois.gov/LMI/Pages/Current_Monthly_Unemployment_Rates.aspx
Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.3 percent in December 2016 from 5.9 percent in December 2015. The last time the December rate was equal to or lower than the current rate was in 2006 when it was 4.4 percent. For the month of December 2016, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 24,400.
Total nonfarm employment increased +4,800 compared to December 2015. Professional-Business Services (+4,500), Wholesale Trade (+1,400), and Manufacturing (+1,400) sectors reported the largest payroll gains. The Leisure-Hospitality
(-2,500) and Financial Activities (-1,100) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.4 percent in December 2016 from 5.5 percent in December 2015. The last time the December rate was equal to or lower was in 2007 when it was 5.2 percent. For the month of December 2016, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 203,300.
Total nonfarm employment increased +22,700 compared to December 2015. Professional-Business Services (+13,800) and Leisure-Hospitality (+10,400) reported the largest payroll gains. The Manufacturing (-5,100), Financial Activities
(-2,700), Construction (-1,700), and Educational-Health Services (-1,600) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.
Elgin, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.7 percent in December 2016 from 6.4 percent in December 2015. The last time the December rate was equal to or lower than the current rate was in 2007 when it was 5.4 percent. For the month of December 2016, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 18,500.
Total nonfarm employment increased +2,700 compared to December 2015. Professional-Business Services (+3,300), Retail Trade (+800), and Construction (+700) reported the largest payroll gains. Leisure-Hospitality (-1,300) and Manufacturing (-900) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.
