Unemployment Rates Up, Jobs Down in February for Every Metro Area

SPRINGFIELD - The number of nonfarm jobs decreased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in February, 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. 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.

"As expected, the global, national, and state impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic are still very present and the effects continue to linger on the economy and the workforce," said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes.  "This is why the Pritzker administration is grateful the federal government acted quickly to roll out the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act with critical extensions and program continuity, and why IDES is committed to transitioning claimants between programs as seamlessly as possible to ensure individuals receive as little disruption to services during this uncertain period."

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 Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division    (-8.8%, -330,200), the Elgin Metro Division (-8.2%, -21,000) and the Kankakee MSA (-8.1%, -3,700). Three metro areas recorded their lowest total nonfarm jobs for the month of February 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 (+5.1 points to 8.8%), the Rockford MSA (+4.8 points to 9.7%) and the Decatur MSA (+4.0 points to 8.4%). The not seasonally adjusted Illinois unemployment rate was 7.8 percent in February 2021.  Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.6 percent in February 2021.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) -February 2021

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

* 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 increased to 8.8 percent in February 2021 from 3.7 percent in February 2020.  The last time the February rate was equal to or higher was in 2014 when it was 8.9 percent. 

Total nonfarm employment decreased -330,200 compared to February 2020.  The Leisure-Hospitality (-141,300), Professional-Business Services (-43,000), Educational-Health Services (-36,300), and Government (-25,600) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.

Elgin, IL Metro Division

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 7.0 percent in February 2021 from 4.1 percent in February 2020. The last time the February rate was equal to or higher was in 2014 when it was 8.6 percent. 

Total nonfarm employment decreased -21,000 compared to February 2020.  The Leisure-Hospitality (-6,900),  Government  (-3,800),  Professional-Business Services (-3,100), Manufacturing  (-2,700), and Educational-Health Services (-2,500) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago. Retail Trade (+1,400) had payroll gains over the year.

Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 6.1 percent in February 2021 from 3.9 percent in February 2020. The last time the February rate was equal to or higher was in 2016 when it was 6.1 percent. 

Total nonfarm employment decreased -25,700 compared to February 2020. Leisure-Hospitality (-8,400),  Educational-Health Services (-5,200),  Government (-4,000), Professional-Business Services (-2,900), and Retail Trade (-2,300) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago. Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+2,400) had payroll gains over the year.

Kankakee, IL MSA

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 7.5 percent in February 2021 from 4.7 percent in February 2020.  The last time the February rate was equal to or higher was in 2016 when it was 7.5 percent. 

Total nonfarm employment decreased -3,700 compared to February 2020.  The Leisure-Hospitality (-1,100),  Educational-Health Services (-900), Government (-500), and Professional-Business Services (-400) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago. 

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. The official monthly unemployment rate series for metro areas, counties and most cities begins in 1990. The official monthly nonfarm jobs series for metro areas begins in 1990 and for non-metropolitan counties it begins in 1999.