Unemployment Rate Down in February for All Fourteen Metros Amidst Ongoing Surge of Unemployment Claims as a Result of COVID-19

Press Release - Thursday, April 02, 2020

SPRINGFIELD -While the unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in February in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas and all 102 counties, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), the department continues to receive an unprecedented number of unemployment claims as a result of COVID-19.

"This administration is fully committed to the health and safety of our workforce and ensuring our workers can provide for their families in this challenging time," said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. "As we navigate this period of economic uncertainty, we will continue to champion policies that will lift up every Illinoisan while making investments that will help to strengthen our economy."

Data also shows the number of nonfarm jobs decreased in nine Illinois metropolitan areas and increased in five. Illinois businesses added jobs in five metro areas, with the largest percentage increases in Kankakee (+2.2%, +1,000), Champaign-Urbana (+1.8%, +2,100) and Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights (+1.0%, +37,500). Total nonfarm jobs were down in Rockford (-3.5%, -5,200), Peoria (-1.8%, -3,000) and Lake-Kenosha (-1.2%, -5,100). The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas included Education and Health Services (11 of 14).

Not seasonally adjusted data compares February 2020 with February 2019. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 3.5 percent in February 2020 and stood at 12.2 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.8 percent in February 2020 and 10.6 percent in January 2010, at its peak. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment. 

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Metropolitan Area	February 2020*	February 2019**	Over-the-Year Change
Bloomington	2.8%	4.5%	-1.7
Carbondale-Marion	3.1%	4.7%	-1.6
Champaign-Urbana	2.7%	4.4%	-1.7
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights	3.4%	4.2%	-0.8
Danville	4.1%	5.9%	-1.8
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	4.0%	4.8%	-0.8
Decatur	4.3%	5.9%	-1.6
Elgin	4.0%	5.6%	-1.6
Kankakee	4.5%	6.3%	-1.8
Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI	3.9%	5.2%	-1.3
Peoria	4.2%	5.8%	-1.6
Rockford	4.8%	6.1%	-1.3
Springfield	3.2%	4.9%	-1.7
St. Louis (IL-Section)	3.2%	4.8%	-1.6
Illinois Statewide	3.5%	4.7%	-1.2
* Preliminary | ** Revised

Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - February 2020

Metropolitan Area	February	February	Over-the-Year
	2020*	2019**	Change
Bloomington MSA	91,400	92,400	-1,000
Carbondale-Marion MSA	57,700	58,100	-400
Champaign-Urbana MSA	117,400	115,300	2,100
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division	3,754,000	3,716,500	37,500
Danville MSA	26,900	27,100	-200
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA	182,700	183,300	-600
Decatur MSA	49,400	49,900	-500
Elgin Metro Division	257,200	257,100	100
Kankakee MSA	45,600	44,600	1,000
Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division	406,800	411,900	-5,100
Peoria MSA	164,900	167,900	-3,000
Rockford MSA	144,800	150,000	-5,200
Springfield MSA	107,500	108,300	-800
Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA	236,900	236,500	400
Illinois Statewide	6,022,300	6,005,900	16,400
*Preliminary | **Revised

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

Labor Market Area	Feb 2020	Feb 2019	Over the Year Change
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division
Cook County	3.4 %	4.3 %	-0.9
DuPage County	2.6 %	3.4 %	-0.8
Grundy County	4.7 %	6.1 %	-1.4
Kendall County	3.3 %	4.0 %	-0.7
McHenry County	3.4 %	4.2 %	-0.8
Will County	3.8 %	4.7 %	-0.9
Elgin, IL Metro Division
DeKalb County	3.5 %	4.9 %	-1.4
Kane County	4.1 %	5.8 %	-1.7
Lake & Kenosha, IL-WI Metro Division
Lake County (IL)	3.7 %	5.4 %	-1.7
Kankakee, IL MSA
Kankakee County	4.5 %	6.3 %	-1.8
Cities
Aurora City	3.6 %	5.1 %	-1.5
Chicago City	3.5 %	4.4 %	-0.9
Elgin City	5.7 %	7.4 %	-1.7
Joliet City	5.1 %	6.0 %	-0.9
Kankakee City	6.7 %	8.6 %	-1.9
Naperville City	2.2 %	2.9 %	-0.7

* Unemployment rates for cities with total population of 25,000 or more can be found at https://www2.illinois.gov/ides/lmi/Pages/Local_Area_Unemployment_Statistics.aspx

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 3.4 percent in February 2020 from 4.2 percent in February 2019. The February 2020 unemployment rate is the lowest February unemployment rate on record.

Total nonfarm employment increased +37,500 compared to February 2019. Educational-Health Services (+19,600), Financial Activities (+6,000), and Government (+4,600) sectors reported the largest payroll gains. The Manufacturing (-6,200) sector recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.

Elgin, IL Metro Division

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 4.0 percent in February 2020 from 5.6 percent in February 2019. The February 2020 unemployment rate is the lowest February unemployment rate on record.

Total nonfarm employment increased +100 compared to February 2019. The Government (+2,100), Educational-Health Services (+500), and Professional-Business Services (+400) sectors reported the largest payroll gains. The Manufacturing (-1,500), Leisure-Hospitality (-1,100), and Wholesale Trade (-500) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.

Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 3.9 percent in February 2020 from 5.2 percent in February 2019. The last time the February rate was equal to or lower was in 1999 when it was 3.8 percent. 

Total nonfarm employment decreased -5,100 compared to February 2019. The Educational-Health Services (+900) and Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+600) sectors reported the largest payroll gains. Professional-Business Services (-3,400), Financial Activities (-1,100) and Retail Trade (-1,000) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.

Kankakee, IL MSA

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 4.5 percent in February 2020 from 6.3 percent in February 2019 The February 2020 unemployment rate is the lowest February unemployment rate on record.

Total nonfarm employment increased +1,000 compared to February 2019. Educational-Health Services (+600), Retail Trade (+400), and Government (+200) sectors reported the largest payroll gains. The Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (-400) sector recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.

Note: Monthly 2019 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2020, 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.