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Unemployment Rate Falls in Thirteen Metros

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

 

Metropolitan Area

Feb.

2018

Feb.

2017

Over-the-Year Change

Bloomington

3.6%

4.9%

-1.3

Carbondale-Marion

4.3%

5.4%

-1.1

Champaign-Urbana

3.7%

4.9%

-1.2

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights

5.3%

5.3%

 0.0

Danville

5.6%

7.2%

-1.6

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL

4.4%

5.5%

-1.1

Decatur

4.9%

6.3%

-1.4

Elgin

4.6%

6.0%

-1.4

Kankakee

5.1%

6.6%

-1.5

Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI

4.3%

5.5%

-1.2

Peoria

5.0%

6.8%

-1.8

Rockford

4.9%

9.2%

-4.3

Springfield

4.0%

5.0%

-1.0

St. Louis (IL-Section)

4.1%

5.2%

-1.1

Illinois Statewide

5.0%

5.6%

-0.6

* Data subject to revision.

 

CHICAGO–Unemployment rates decreased over-the-year in February in 13 of Illinois’s metropolitan areas and was unchanged 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 eleven of the metropolitan areas.

 

“It’s certainly a robust start to 2018 with declining unemployment rates in most areas,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “In fact, the February unemployment rate in thirteen of the metros is the lowest it has been since at least 2000.”

 

Illinois businesses added jobs in eleven metro areas, with the largest increases in: Rockford (+5.3 percent, +7,500), Kankakee (+4.2 percent, +1,900), and Elgin (+2.5 percent, +6,300). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division increased (+0.5 percent or +18,700). Illinois businesses lost jobs in three metro areas: Springfield (-1.8 percent, -2,000), Carbondale-Marion (-1.6 percent, -900), and Danville (-1.1 percent, -300).

 

The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas included Manufacturing (11 of 14), Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (8 of 14), Professional and Business Services, (8 of 14), and Government (8 of 14).

 

Not seasonally adjusted data compares February 2018 with February 2017. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 5.0 percent in February 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 4.4 percent in February 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) – February 2018

 

Metropolitan Area

February
2018*

February
2017**

Over-the-Year Change

Bloomington MSA

93,600

92,900

700

Carbondale-Marion MSA

56,900

57,800

-900

Champaign-Urbana MSA

111,400

110,200

1,200

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division

3,694,300

3,675,600

18,700

Danville MSA

27,800

28,100

-300

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA

183,200

179,900

3,300

Decatur MSA

50,900

50,800

100

Elgin Metro Division

255,600

249,300

6,300

Kankakee MSA

47,000

45,100

1,900

Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division

408,500

399,400

9,100

Peoria MSA

167,700

166,300

1,400

Rockford MSA

149,700

142,200

7,500

Springfield MSA

110,500

112,500

-2,000

Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA

235,500

235,300

200

Illinois Statewide

5,991,300

5,936,300

55,000

                 *Preliminary    **Revised

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas

 

 

Feb.2018

Feb.2017

Over-the-Year Change

Carbondale-Marion MSA

4.3%

5.4%

-1.1%

Jackson County

3.8%

5.0%

-1.2%

Williamson County

4.7%

5.8%

-1.1%

Other Area Counties

Alexander County

7.0%

7.9%

-0.9%

Franklin County

5.7%

7.5%

-1.8%

Johnson County

7.4%

8.7%

-1.3%-

Massac County

5.7%

7.1%

-1.4%

Perry County

5.3%

6.9%

-1.6%

Pulaski County

7.1%

9.0%

-1.9%

Randolph County

4.1%

5.0%

-0.9%

Union County

6.8%

8.0%

-1.2%

Harrisburg Area

Gallatin County

5.1%

6.3%

-1.2%

Hamilton County

4.3%

5.6%

-1.3%

Hardin County

6.9%

9.1%

-2.2%

Pope County

5.3%

7.2%

-1.9%

Saline County

5.9%

7.0%

-1.1%

White County

3.9%

6.1%

-2.2%

Olney – Mt. Carmel Area

Edwards County

4.2%

5.7%

-1.5%

Lawrence County

5.4%

7.6%

-2.2%

Richland County

4.1%

5.7%

-1.6%

Wabash County

4.1%

6.0%

-1.9%

Wayne County

5.2%

7.7%

-2.5%

 

 


 

Southern Illinois Highlights

Help Wanted

Area employers advertised for 2,300 positions in February and approximately 82 percent sought full-time employment, according to Help Wanted Online data compiled by the Conference Board, which is a global, independent business membership and research association.  Employers need more workers than the help wanted advertising indicated because some industries, such as Construction, typically do not post advertised job openings.

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in February 2018 in the Carbondale-Marion Metropolitan Statistical Area (Jackson and Williamson Counties). This is a (-1.1%) decrease compared to February 2017, when the jobless rate was 5.4 percent. There were approximately 2,550 unemployed in February 2018 in the two counties. Unemployment decreased in all 21 counties in the Southern Region compared to one year-ago.

Area employers continued to show demand in Retail Trade, Transportation and Warehousing, Administrative and Support Services, and Educational Services in February 2018.

Decreased hiring demand occurred in Public Administration and Accommodation-Food Services compared to February 2017.

Top occupations for hire included Truck Drivers, Insurance Sales Agents, Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers, and Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers.

The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. A person who exhausts benefits, or is ineligible, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.

 

 

 

 

Note:

Technical Note: Monthly 2017 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2018, as required by the U.S. BLSComments 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.

 

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