Unemployment Rate Drops in All Metro Areas for Sixth Consecutive Month

 Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

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

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

South Central Illinois Highlights

Labor market conditions gradually improved during 2017 in South Central Illinois. Fall unemployment rates are generally at low levels for the year. All eighteen counties reported a decline in unemployment compared to one year-ago. The data is not seasonally adjusted.

Employment increases were reported in Transportation, Health Care Services, and Professional-Business Services this fall in South Central 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, payroll gains were reported in Manufacturing, Retail Trade, Wholesale Trade, and Health Services. Employment losses occurred in Information and Financial Activities. Government payrolls continued to steadily decline during the past year.

Many employment opportunities were available in Transportation, Health Care, Sales, and Office and Administrative Support in late fall 2017. Numerous job openings were advertised in Engineering, Management, Food Preparation, and Production occupations. Workers were needed in Health Care Support, Business-Finance, Computer, Social Services, and Installation, Maintenance, and Repair.

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.