Unemployment Rate Drops in All Metro Areas for Sixth Consecutive Month

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Metropolitan Area	Nov. 2017	Nov. 2016		Over-the-Year Change
Bloomington	3.9%	4.6%	-0.7
Carbondale-Marion	4.5%	5.2%	-0.7
Champaign-Urbana	4.2%	4.7%	-0.5
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights	4.8%	5.3%	-0.5
Danville	6.0%	6.7%	-0.7
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	3.9%	4.8%	-0.9
Decatur	5.3%	6.0%	-0.7
Elgin	4.4%	4.9%	-0.5
Kankakee	5.0%	5.8%	-0.8
Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI	3.9%	4.6%	-0.7
Peoria	4.8%	5.9%	-1.1
Rockford	5.1%	6.0%	-0.9
Springfield	4.0%	4.4%	-0.4
St. Louis (IL-Section)	4.5%	5.1%	-0.6
Illinois Statewide	4.7%	5.2%	-0.5
* Data subject to revision.

CHICAGO–Unemployment rates decreased over-the-year in November in all of Illinois’s 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 show nonfarm jobs increased in ten of the metropolitan areas and decreased in four.

“It is encouraging that job growth was reported in ten of the fourteen metro areas,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “More than 30,000 of those jobs were created in the Chicago Metro area, so we need continued stronger growth statewide.”

Illinois businesses added jobs in ten metro areas, with the largest increases in: Kankakee (+2.6 percent, +1,200), Lake/Kenosha (+2.4 percent, +9,800), and the Quad Cities (+1.6 percent, +3,000). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division increased (+0.6 percent or +20,900). Illinois businesses lost jobs in four metro areas, with the largest losses in: Danville (-1.7 percent, -500), Champaign (-0.6 percent, -700), and Decatur (-0.6 percent, -300).

The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas included Professional and Business Services, (11 of 14), Mining and Construction (10 of 14), Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities (10 of 14), Manufacturing (9 of 14), Education and Health Services (9 of 14), and Leisure and Hospitality (8 of 14).

Not seasonally adjusted data compares November 2017 with November 2016. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 4.7 percent in November 2017 and stood at 12.2 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.9 percent in November 2017 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) – November 2017

Metropolitan Area	November 2017*	November 2016**		Over-the-Year Change
Bloomington MSA	95,500	95,000	500
Carbondale-Marion MSA	59,400	58,800	600
Champaign-Urbana MSA	111,200	111,900	-700
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division	3,776,200	3,755,300	20,900
Danville MSA	28,300	28,800	-500
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA	187,200	184,200	3,000
Decatur MSA	51,600	51,900	-300
Elgin Metro Division	259,700	259,200	500
Kankakee MSA	46,900	45,700	1,200
Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division	418,400	408,600	9,800
Peoria MSA	176,900	176,000	900
Rockford MSA	152,300	152,200	100
Springfield MSA	116,700	117,100	-400
Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA	240,100	238,700	1,400
Illinois Statewide	6,116,200	6,087,700	28,500
	Preliminary *Revised

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

	Nov.2017	Nov.2016	Over-the-Year Change
Carbondale-Marion MSA	4.5%	5.2%	-0.7
Jackson County	4.3%	4.9%	-0.6
Williamson County	4.7%	5.4%	-0.7
Other Area Counties
Alexander County	8.5%	8.4%	0.1
Franklin County	6.2%	7.3%	-1.1
Johnson County	6.8%	8.0%	-1.2
Massac County	5.8%	6.4%	-0.6
Perry County	5.5%	6.6%	-1.1
Pulaski County	8.3%	7.9%	0.4
Randolph County	4.1%	4.4%	-0.3
Union County	5.7%	6.4%	-0.7
Harrisburg Area
Gallatin County	5.2%	6.4%	-1.2
Hamilton County	3.9%	5.4%	-1.5
Hardin County	7.0%	9.0%	-2.0
Pope County	5.4%	6.5%	-1.1
Saline County	6.4%	7.1%	-0.7
White County	4.5%	5.7%	-1.2
Olney – Mt. Carmel Area
Edwards County	4.3%	4.9%	-0.6
Lawrence County	5.6%	7.0%	-1.4
Richland County	4.5%	5.4%	-0.9
Wabash County	4.7%	5.9%	-1.2
Wayne County	5.3%	7.7%	-2.4

Southern Illinois Highlights

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.5 percent in November 2017 in the Carbondale-Marion Metropolitan Statistical Area (Jackson and Williamson Counties). In November 2016, the jobless rate was 5.2 percent. There were approximately 2,700 unemployed in November 2017 in the two counties. Unemployment decreased in 19 of the 21 counties compared to one year- ago.

Employment gains were reported in fall 2017 in Transportation and Health-Services in Southern Illinois. Retail Trade businesses and Eating and Drinking Places hired temporary and additional workers for the busy Holiday Season. Payrolls in Construction began to decline with seasonal layoffs. Over the year, employment advances were reported in Wholesale Trade, Retail Trade, and Health Services. Workforce increases also occurred in Leisure-Hospitality and Professional-Business Services. Payroll losses occurred in Mining, Financial Activities, and Government during the past year.

Numerous employment opportunities were advertised in Health Care, Transportation, and Sales in late fall 2017. Many job openings were available in Office and Administrative Support, Management, and Social Service occupations. Career prospects were favorable in Health Care Support, Education, Production, and Installation, Maintenance, and Repair. Jobs were also advertised for Food Service, Engineering, Business-Finance, and Education-Training occupations.

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.