Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
| Metropolitan Area | Jan. 2017 | Jan. 2016 | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 6.1% | 5.9% | 0.2 |
| Carbondale-Marion | 7.0% | 6.8% | 0.2 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 6.1% | 5.9% | 0.2 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 5.8% | 6.5% | -0.7 |
| Danville | 8.6% | 8.2% | 0.4 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 6.3% | 6.7% | -0.4 |
| Decatur | 7.7% | 7.7% | 0.0 |
| Elgin | 7.2% | 6.8% | 0.4 |
| Kankakee | 8.3% | 7.9% | 0.4 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 6.5% | 6.2% | 0.3 |
| Peoria | 8.3% | 7.7% | 0.6 |
| Rockford | 11.1% | 7.8% | 3.3 |
| Springfield | 6.1% | 5.9% | 0.2 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) | 6.6% | 6.7% | -0.1 |
| Illinois Statewide | 6.5% | 6.7% | -0.2 |
* Data subject to revision. |
CHICAGO–The majority of Illinois’ metropolitan (metro) areas experienced increases in their over-the-year unemployment rate. Five of the metro areas had increases in nonfarm jobs, eight reported declines, and one was unchanged, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).
“Job losses outside of the Chicago area continue to hamper overall statewide job growth,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “The decrease in the Chicago and Quad Cities unemployment rate is again offset by increased unemployment rates in most of the other metro areas.”
Illinois businesses added jobs in five metro areas, in which the largest increases were seen in: Springfield (+2.0 percent, +2,200), Champaign (+0.7 percent, +700), and Elgin (+0.5 percent, +1,300). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division increased (+0.4 percent or +15,600). Illinois businesses lost jobs in eight metro areas including Peoria (-2.7 percent, -4,700), Rockford (-2.5 percent, -3,700), and Bloomington (-2.4 percent, -2,200). The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas were: Professional and Business Services (eight of 14) and Education and Health Services (eight of 14).
Not seasonally adjusted data compares January 2017 with January 2016. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 6.5 percent in January 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 5.1 percent in January 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) – January 2017
| Metropolitan Area | Jan. | Jan. | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington MSA | 90,500 | 92,700 | -2,200 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 55,600 | 55,900 | -300 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 107,200 | 106,500 | 700 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,645,100 | 3,629,500 | 15,600 |
| Danville MSA | 28,400 | 28,600 | -200 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 180,700 | 179,900 | 800 |
| Decatur MSA | 50,500 | 50,800 | -300 |
| Elgin Metro Division | 245,900 | 244,600 | 1,300 |
| Kankakee MSA | 43,600 | 43,600 | 0 |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 396,500 | 400,200 | -3,700 |
| Peoria MSA | 169,300 | 174,000 | -4,700 |
| Rockford MSA | 145,000 | 148,700 | -3,700 |
| Springfield MSA | 114,200 | 112,000 | 2,200 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 231,000 | 231,200 | -200 |
| Illinois Statewide | 5,892,300 | 5,881,000 | 11,300 |
| *Preliminary **Revised | |||
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
| Labor Market Area | Jan-17 | Jan-16 | Over-the-Year Change |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin IL-IN-WI MSA | 6.0% | 6.6% | -0.6 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division | |||
| Cook County | 6.0% | 6.7% | -0.7 |
| DuPage County | 4.7% | 5.3% | -0.6 |
| Grundy County | 8.2% | 8.9% | -0.7 |
| Kendall County | 5.4% | 5.9% | -0.5 |
| McHenry County | 5.8% | 6.4% | -0.6 |
| Will County | 6.3% | 7.0% | -0.7 |
| Elgin, IL Metro Division | |||
| DeKalb County | 7.2% | 6.5% | 0.7 |
| Kane County | 7.3% | 6.9% | 0.4 |
| Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division | |||
| Lake County | 6.9% | 6.5% | 0.4 |
| Cities (with total population of at least 100,000) * | |||
| Aurora City | 6.3% | 6.4% | -0.1 |
| Chicago City | 6.2% | 7.0% | -0.8 |
| Elgin City | 9.1% | 8.7% | 0.4 |
| Joliet City | 8.1% | 8.9% | -0.8 |
| Naperville City | 4.1% | 4.6% | -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 6.5 percent in January 2017 from 6.2 percent in January 2016. For the month of January 2017, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 29,600.
Total nonfarm employment declined -3,700 compared to January 2016. Manufacturing (+1,200), Government (+1,000), Wholesale Trade (+600), and Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+600) sectors reported the largest payroll gains. The Leisure-Hospitality (-4,200) and Professional-Business Services (-3,100) 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 5.8 percent in January 2017 from 6.5 percent in January 2016. The last time the January rate was equal to or lower than the current rate was in 2008 when it was 5.8 percent. For the month of January 2017, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 219,100.
Total nonfarm employment increased +15,600 compared to January 2016. Financial Activities (+7,800), Retail Trade (+4,500), and Leisure-Hospitality (+4,200) reported the largest payroll gains. The Professional-Business Services (-4,100), Manufacturing (-2,500), and Other Services (-1,700) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.
Elgin, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 7.2 percent in January 2017 from 6.8 percent in January 2016. For the month of January 2017, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 23,400.
Total nonfarm employment increased +1,300 compared to January 2016. Wholesale Trade (+900), Information (+300), Retail Trade (+200), and Educational-Health Services (+200) reported the largest payroll gains. Professional-Business Services (-500), Other Services (-400), and Construction
(-400) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.
Note:
Monthly 2016 unemployment rates and total non-farm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2017, as required by the U.S. Dept.of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics(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.
