The number of nonfarm jobs decreased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in January, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). The unemployment rate increased over-the-year in all metro areas. Locally, Wabash County saw the largest uptick from 3.1% to 5.9%. Saline County was right behind Wabash with an increase from 5.3% to 8.0%. Gallatin County rose from 5.2% to 7.7%. White County saw a 2.2% increase from 3.6% to 5.8%. Hamilton County was up from 3.3% to 5.4%. Edwards County went from 4.2% to 6.2%, Wayne County from 4.2% to 5.9%, Pope County from 5.1% to 6.8%, and Hardin County from 6.4% to 8.0% (along with Saline and Gallatin Counties, the highest unemployment rates in our area.)
SPRINGFIELD –The official, BLS approved sub-state unemployment rate and nonfarm jobs series begins in 1990. Data reported prior to 1990 are not directly comparable due to updates in methodology.
“The Pritzker administration remains steadfast in providing support and services to individuals impacted by this pandemic more than a year later,” said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. “As IDES works to rollout the new extensions provided in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to ensure eligible claimants have access to benefits, they will continue to provide job-matching resources to individuals as the economy works to recover statewide.”
The number of nonfarm jobs decreased in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas. The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Kankakee MSA (-9.8%, -4,500), the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (-9.1%, -342,700) and the Elgin Metropolitan Division (-8.4%, -21,400). Three metro areas recorded their lowest total nonfarm jobs for the month of January on record (dating back to 1990).
Over-the-year, the unemployment rate increased in all 14 metropolitan areas; the metro areas with the largest unemployment rate increases were the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (+5.3 points to 9.1%), the Decatur MSA (+5.1 points to 9.9%) and the Springfield MSA (+3.9 points to 7.6%). The not seasonally adjusted Illinois unemployment rate was 8.5 percent in January 2021. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.8 percent in January 2021.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
| Metropolitan Area | January 2021* | January 2020** | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 6.3% | 3.2% | 3.1 |
| Carbondale-Marion | 6.9% | 3.7% | 3.2 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 6.3% | 3.1% | 3.2 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 9.1% | 3.8% | 5.3 |
| Danville | 8.0% | 4.6% | 3.4 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 6.8% | 4.6% | 2.2 |
| Decatur | 9.9% | 4.8% | 5.1 |
| Elgin | 8.2% | 4.5% | 3.7 |
| Kankakee | 8.7% | 5.1% | 3.6 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 7.1% | 4.1% | 3.0 |
| Peoria | 8.2% | 4.7% | 3.5 |
| Rockford | 11.1% | 7.6% | 3.5 |
| Springfield | 7.6% | 3.7% | 3.9 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) | 6.6% | 3.6% | 3.0 |
| Illinois Statewide | 8.5% | 4.0% | 4.5 |
| * Preliminary I ** Revised |
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) –January 2021
| Metropolitan Area | January 2021* | January 2020** | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington MSA | 84,700 | 91,000 | -6,300 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 53,100 | 56,400 | -3,300 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 107,800 | 116,600 | -8,800 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,413,300 | 3,756,000 | -342,700 |
| Danville MSA | 25,900 | 26,700 | -800 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 171,400 | 182,900 | -11,500 |
| Decatur MSA | 45,800 | 49,500 | -3,700 |
| Elgin Metro Division | 232,900 | 254,300 | -21,400 |
| Kankakee MSA | 41,200 | 45,700 | -4,500 |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 387,200 | 412,300 | -25,100 |
| Peoria MSA | 155,600 | 167,500 | -11,900 |
| Rockford MSA | 135,900 | 147,300 | -11,400 |
| Springfield MSA | 98,600 | 107,000 | -8,400 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 224,200 | 236,500 | -12,300 |
| Illinois Statewide | 5,532,000 | 6,032,500 | -500,500 |
| *Preliminary | **Revised |
|
|
|
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
Labor Market Area | Jan 2021 | Jan 2020 | Over the Year Change | |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 6.9 % | 3.7 % | 3.2 | |
| Jackson County | 6.9 % | 3.3 % | 3.6 | |
| Williamson County | 6.9 % | 4.0 % | 2.9 | |
| Surrounding Counties | ||||
| Alexander County | 9.7 % | 5.5 % | 4.2 | |
| Franklin County | 7.9 % | 4.9 % | 3.0 | |
| Johnson County | 7.7 % | 5.6 % | 2.1 | |
| Massac County | 8.1 % | 5.1 % | 3.0 | |
| Perry County | 6.8 % | 4.4 % | 2.4 | |
| Pulaski County | 11.6% | 6.4 % | 5.2 | |
| Randolph County | 5.6 % | 3.5 % | 2.1 | |
| Union County | 7.6 % | 5.8 % | 1.8 | |
| Harrisburg Area | ||||
| Gallatin County | 7.7 % | 5.2 % | 2.5 | |
| Hamilton County | 5.4 % | 3.3 % | 2.1 | |
| Hardin County | 8.0 % | 6.4 % | 1.6 | |
| Pope County | 6.8 % | 5.1 % | 1.7 | |
| Saline County | 8.0 % | 5.3 % | 2.7 | |
| White County | 5.8 % | 3.6 % | 2.2 | |
| Olney – Mt. Carmel Area | ||||
| Edwards County | 6.2 % | 4.2 % | 2.0 | |
| Lawrence County | 7.6 % | 4.8 % | 2.8 | |
| Richland County | 5.4 % | 3.6 % | 1.8 | |
| Wabash County | 5.9 % | 3.1 % | 2.8 | |
| Wayne County | 5.9 % | 4.2 % | 1.7 | |
| Other Areas | ||||
| LWIA 23 | 6.3 % | 3.7 % | 2.6 | |
| LWIA 24 | 6.6 % | 3.5 % | 3.1 | |
| LWIA 25 | 7.1 % | 4.0 % | 3.1 | |
| LWIA 26 | 7.1 % | 4.7 % | 2.4 | |
| Southern EDR | 7.1 % | 4.3 % | 2.8 |
Southern Illinois Highlights
Carbondale – Marion Area
The January 2021 unemployment rate was 6.9 percent. This was an increase of +3.2 percentage points from the January 2020 rate of 3.7 percent. Total nonfarm employment in January 2021 decreased (-3,300) compared to last January.
Employment losses were posted in Government (-600).
Surrounding Counties
Total nonfarm employment decreased by -1,900 compared to January 2020.
January payrolls declined in Educational and Health Services (-400), Leisure and Hospitality (-375), Government (-350), Manufacturing (-300), Natural Resources and Mining (-175), Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-125), Professional and Business Services (-100), Other Services (-75), and Information (-25). No change was reported in Financial Activities, and Construction employment.
Harrisburg Area
Total nonfarm employment decreased by -750 compared to January 2020.
Employment gains were posted in Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+125), and Information (+25).
Employment declined in Natural Resources and Mining (-275), Leisure and Hospitality (-175), Education and Health Services (-150), Manufacturing (-75), Government (-75), Other Services (-50), Professional and Business Services (-50), and Financial Services (-25). No change in employment was reported in Construction.
Olney – Mt. Carmel Area
Total nonfarm employment decreased by -750 compared to January 2020.
Employment gains were posted in Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+300).
Employment declined in Educational and Health Services (-300), Manufacturing (-175), Leisure and Hospitality (-150), Natural Resources and Mining (-100), Government (-100), Construction (-75), Professional and Business Services (-25), Information (-25), Financial Activities (-25), and Other Services (-25).
Note: Monthly 2020 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2021, 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.
