Press Release - Thursday, April 01, 2021
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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
Metropolitan Area | February 2021* | February 2020** | Over-the-Year Change |
Bloomington | 5.1% | 2.8% | 2.3 |
Carbondale-Marion | 5.9% | 3.2% | 2.7 |
Champaign-Urbana | 5.0% | 2.7% | 2.3 |
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 8.8% | 3.7% | 5.1 |
Danville | 6.9% | 4.1% | 2.8 |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 6.1% | 4.1% | 2.0 |
Decatur | 8.4% | 4.4% | 4.0 |
Elgin | 7.0% | 4.1% | 2.9 |
Kankakee | 7.5% | 4.7% | 2.8 |
Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 6.1% | 3.9% | 2.2 |
Peoria | 7.0% | 4.2% | 2.8 |
Rockford | 9.7% | 4.9% | 4.8 |
Springfield | 6.2% | 3.3% | 2.9 |
St. Louis (IL-Section) | 5.6% | 3.2% | 2.4 |
Illinois Statewide | 7.8% | 3.7% | 4.1 |
* Preliminary I ** Revised |
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Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) -February 2021
February | February | Over-the-Year |
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Metropolitan Area | 2021* | 2020** | Change |
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Bloomington MSA | 86,200 | 92,500 | -6,300 |
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Carbondale-Marion MSA | 53,100 | 56,400 | -3,300 |
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Champaign-Urbana MSA | 114,900 | 117,900 | -3,000 |
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Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,431,400 | 3,761,600 | -330,200 |
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Danville MSA | 25,900 | 26,900 | -1,000 |
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Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 171,900 | 183,100 | -11,200 |
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Decatur MSA | 45,900 | 49,600 | -3,700 |
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Elgin Metro Division | 234,300 | 255,300 | -21,000 |
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Kankakee MSA | 41,700 | 45,400 | -3,700 |
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Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 386,600 | 412,300 | -25,700 |
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Peoria MSA | 155,400 | 168,200 | -12,800 |
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Rockford MSA | 136,200 | 146,800 | -10,600 |
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Springfield MSA | 100,300 | 107,100 | -6,800 |
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Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 224,200 | 236,500 | -12,300 |
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Illinois Statewide | 5,590,000 | 6,044,400 | -454,400 |
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*Preliminary | **Revised |
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Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
Labor Market Area | Feb 2021 | Feb 2020 | Over the Year Change |
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Carbondale-Marion MSA | 5.9 % | 3.2 % | 2.7 | ||
Jackson County | 5.9 % | 2.8 % | 3.1 | ||
Williamson County | 6.0 % | 3.5 % | 2.5 | ||
Surrounding Counties |
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Alexander County | 8.0 % | 5.4 % | 2.6 | ||
Franklin County | 6.8 % | 4.5 % | 2.3 | ||
Johnson County | 6.7 % | 5.3 % | 1.4 | ||
Massac County | 6.6 % | 4.6 % | 2.0 | ||
Perry County | 5.9 % | 4.0 % | 1.9 | ||
Pulaski County | 9.8 % | 6.9 % | 2.9 | ||
Randolph County | 4.8 % | 3.1 % | 1.7 | ||
Union County | 6.6 % | 5.3 % | 1.3 | ||
Harrisburg Area |
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Gallatin County | 6.8 % | 5.2 % | 1.6 | ||
Hamilton County | 4.9 % | 3.2 % | 1.7 | ||
Hardin County | 7.0 % | 5.7 % | 1.3 | ||
Pope County | 5.7 % | 4.4 % | 1.3 | ||
Saline County | 6.9 % | 4.6 % | 2.3 | ||
White County | 5.4 % | 3.3 % | 2.1 | ||
Olney - Mt. Carmel Area |
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Edwards County | 5.5 % | 4.3 % | 1.2 | ||
Lawrence County | 6.5 % | 4.2 % | 2.3 | ||
Richland County | 4.7 % | 3.2 % | 1.5 | ||
Wabash County | 5.1 % | 3.1 % | 2.0 | ||
Wayne County | 5.3 % | 3.9 % | 1.4 | ||
Other Areas |
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LWIA 23 | 5.5 % | 3.4 % | 2.1 | ||
LWIA 24 | 5.7 % | 3.1 % | 2.6 | ||
LWIA 25 | 6.1 % | 3.6 % | 2.5 | ||
LWIA 26 | 6.2 % | 4.4 % | 1.8 | ||
Southern EDR | 6.2 % | 3.9 % | 2.3 |
Southern Illinois Highlights
Carbondale - Marion Area
The February 2021 unemployment rate was 5.9 percent. This was an increase of +2.7 percentage points from the February 2020 rate of 3.2 percent. Total nonfarm employment in February 2021 decreased (-3,100) compared to last February.
Employment losses were posted in Government (-600).
Surrounding Counties
Total nonfarm employment decreased by -1,750 compared to February 2020.
February payrolls declined in Educational and Health Services (-375), Government (-350), Leisure and Hospitality (-300), Manufacturing (-275), Natural Resources and Mining (-150), Professional and Business Services (-125), Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-75), Other Services (-75), and Information (-25). Construction employment increased by (+25). No change was reported in Financial Activities.
Harrisburg Area
Total nonfarm employment decreased by -775 compared to February 2020.
Employment gains were posted in Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+100).
Employment declined in Natural Resources and Mining (-225), Leisure and Hospitality (-175), Education and Health Services (-150), Government (-125), Manufacturing (-75), Other Services (-50), Professional and Business Services (-50), Construction (-50), Information (-25), and Financial Activities (-25).
Olney - Mt. Carmel Area
Total nonfarm employment decreased by -750 compared to February 2020.
Employment gains were posted in Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+225).
Employment declined in Educational and Health Services (-300), Manufacturing (-150), Government (-150), Leisure and Hospitality (-125), Construction (-75), Natural Resources and Mining (-75), Professional and Business Services (-50), and Other Services (-25). No change was reported in Information.
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.
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