Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
| Metropolitan Area | Apr. 2018 | Apr. 2017 | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 3.1% | 3.6% | -0.5 |
| Carbondale-Marion | 3.8% | 4.1% | -0.3 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 3.2% | 3.6% | -0.4 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 3.6% | 4.6% | -1.0 |
| Danville | 4.8% | 5.6% | -0.8 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 3.5% | 4.1% | -0.6 |
| Decatur | 4.4% | 4.8% | -0.4 |
| Elgin | 3.7% | 4.2% | -0.5 |
| Kankakee | 4.2% | 4.7% | -0.5 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 3.4% | 3.9% | -0.5 |
| Peoria | 4.1% | 5.0% | -0.9 |
| Rockford | 4.2% | 6.5% | -2.3 |
| Springfield | 3.2% | 3.8% | -0.6 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) | 3.4% | 4.1% | -0.7 |
| Illinois Statewide | 3.6% | 4.5% | -0.9 |
| * Data subject to revision. | |||
CHICAGO–Unemployment rates decreased over-the-year in April 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 nine of the metropolitan areas.
“The unemployment rate has been below previous year levels in all metro areas for ten of the last eleven months,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “In fact, three metro areas saw their lowest unemployment rate on record for April.”
Illinois businesses added jobs in nine metro areas, with the largest increases in: Kankakee (+3.9 percent, +1,800), Lake (+1.9 percent, +7,800), and the Quad Cities (+1.5 percent, +2,700). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division increased (+0.7 percent or +25,300). Illinois businesses lost jobs in five metro areas with the largest losses in: Carbondale-Marion (-1.7 percent, -1,000), Springfield (-1.2 percent, -1,400), and Danville (-1.1 percent, -300).
The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas included Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (9 of 14), Professional and Business Services, (9 of 14), Manufacturing (8 of 14), Education and Health Services (8 of 14), and Leisure and Hospitality (8 of 14).
Not seasonally adjusted data compares April 2018 with April 2017. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 3.6 percent in April 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 3.7 percent in April 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) – April 2018
| Metropolitan Area | April 2018* | April 2017** | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington MSA | 94,800 | 95,400 | -600 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 57,600 | 58,600 | -1,000 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 113,700 | 112,800 | 900 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,742,700 | 3,717,400 | 25,300 |
| Danville MSA | 28,100 | 28,400 | -300 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 186,100 | 183,400 | 2,700 |
| Decatur MSA | 51,200 | 51,000 | 200 |
| Elgin Metro Division | 259,000 | 256,700 | 2,300 |
| Kankakee MSA | 48,100 | 46,300 | 1,800 |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 419,800 | 412,000 | 7,800 |
| Peoria MSA | 172,400 | 172,900 | -500 |
| Rockford MSA | 150,900 | 149,300 | 1,600 |
| Springfield MSA | 112,500 | 113,900 | -1,400 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 241,500 | 239,900 | 1,600 |
| Illinois Statewide | 6,082,900 | 6,034,600 | 48,300 |
*Preliminary **Revised |
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Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
| Labor Market Area | April 2018 | April 2017 | Over-the-Year Change |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 3.8% | 4.1% | -0.3% |
| Jackson County | 3.4% | 3.7% | -0.3% |
| Williamson County | 4.1% | 4.5% | -0.4% |
| Other Area Counties | |||
| Alexander County | 6.0% | 6.7% | -0.7% |
| Franklin County | 4.9% | 5.8% | -0.9% |
| Johnson County | 6.1% | 6.2% | -0.1% |
| Massac County | 5.4% | 5.7% | -0.3% |
| Perry County | 4.5% | 5.2% | -0.7% |
| Pulaski County | 6.3% | 7.5% | -1.2% |
| Randolph County | 3.1% | 3.6% | -0.5% |
| Union County | 5.2% | 5.8% | -0.6% |
| Harrisburg Area | |||
| Gallatin County | 4.3% | 5.1% | -0.8% |
| Hamilton County | 3.4% | 4.0% | -0.6% |
| Hardin County | 5.9% | 6.4% | -0.5% |
| Pope County | 4.2% | 5.4% | -1.2% |
| Saline County | 5.3% | 5.3% | 0.0% |
| White County | 3.4% | 4.3% | -0.9% |
| Olney – Mt. Carmel Area | |||
| Edwards County | 3.4% | 3.6% | -0.2% |
| Lawrence County | 4.3% | 5.3% | -1.0% |
| Richland County | 3.5% | 4.0% | -0.5% |
| Wabash County | 3.1% | 4.5% | -1.4% |
| Wayne County | 4.4% | 5.7% | -1.3% |
Southern Illinois Highlights
Help Wanted
Area employers advertised for 2,300 positions in April and approximately 81 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 3.8 percent in April 2018 in the Carbondale-Marion Metropolitan Statistical Area (Jackson and Williamson Counties). This is a (-0.3%) decrease compared to April 2017, when the jobless rate was 4.1 percent. Unemployment decreased or remained unchanged in all 21 counties in the Southern Region compared to one year-ago.
Area employers continued to show demand in Transportation and Warehousing, Professional Services, Manufacturing, and Wholesale Trade in April 2018.
Decreased hiring demand occurred in Health Care and Social Assistance, Administrative Support Services, Public Administration, and Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation.
Top occupations for hire included Truck Drivers, Registered Nurses, Retail Salespersons, Medical and Health Services Managers, and Customer Service Representatives in April 2018.
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: 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. BLS. Comments 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.
