Press Release - Thursday, May 27, 2021
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Unemployment Rates Down, Jobs Up for Every Metro Area Compared to Last April
SPRINGFIELD - The number of nonfarm jobs increased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in April 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 decreased over-the-year in all metro areas. The official, BLS approved sub-state unemployment rate and nonfarm jobs series begins in 1990.
"Decreased unemployment in all 102 counties compared to last spring is a critical component of Illinois' pandemic recovery, and the administration will continue to deploy every available resource to ensure that this economic rebound is as widespread as possible," said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. "That said, COVID-19 is still with us, and the Department remains focused on supporting workers not yet able to rejoin the labor market through benefits as well as job-matching resources."
The number of nonfarm jobs increased in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas. The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Carbondale-Marion MSA (+9.8%, +5,000), the Springfield MSA (+9.0%, +8,400) and the Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI Metropolitan Division (+8.7%, +31,700). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division rose by +7.3%, +237,900.
Over-the-year, the unemployment rate decreased in all 14 metropolitan areas; the metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were the Rockford MSA (-12.8 points to 9.7%), the Carbondale-Marion MSA (-11.8 points to 5.7%) and the Peoria MSA (-10.7 points to 6.4%). The Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division unemployment rate fell -8.5 points to 7.9%. The unemployment rate also decreased over-the-year in all 102 counties.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
Metropolitan Area | April 2021* | April 2020** | Over-the-Year Change | |
Bloomington | 4.8% | 12.9% | -8.1 | |
Carbondale-Marion | 5.7% | 17.5% | -11.8 | |
Champaign-Urbana | 4.8% | 11.0% | -6.2 | |
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 7.9% | 16.4% | -8.5 | |
Danville | 6.5% | 17.0% | -10.5 | |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 5.6% | 15.9% | -10.3 | |
Decatur | 7.9% | 15.4% | -7.5 | |
Elgin | 6.3% | 16.8% | -10.5 | |
Kankakee | 6.9% | 16.2% | -9.3 | |
Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 5.5% | 15.3% | -9.8 | |
Peoria | 6.4% | 17.1% | -10.7 | |
Rockford | 9.7% | 22.5% | -12.8 | |
Springfield | 5.9% | 14.9% | -9.0 | |
St. Louis (IL-Section) | 5.3% | 15.1% | -9.8 | |
Illinois Statewide | 7.1% | 16.3% | -9.2 | |
* Preliminary I ** Revised |
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Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted)-April 2021
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Metropolitan Area | April 2021* | April 2020** | Change |
Bloomington MSA | 87,700 | 82,800 | 4,900 |
Carbondale-Marion MSA | 56,100 | 51,100 | 5,000 |
Champaign-Urbana MSA | 117,600 | 108,600 | 9,000 |
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,509,500 | 3,271,600 | 237,900 |
Danville MSA | 26,500 | 24,600 | 1,900 |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 175,000 | 161,400 | 13,600 |
Decatur MSA | 47,400 | 44,900 | 2,500 |
Elgin Metro Division | 240,800 | 222,800 | 18,000 |
Kankakee MSA | 42,200 | 40,600 | 1,600 |
Lake County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 396,400 | 364,700 | 31,700 |
Peoria MSA | 159,500 | 149,100 | 10,400 |
Rockford MSA | 134,600 | 127,000 | 7,600 |
Springfield MSA | 102,100 | 93,700 | 8,400 |
Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 229,900 | 212,600 | 17,300 |
Illinois Statewide | 5,720,900 | 5,310,300 | 410,600 |
*Preliminary | **Revised |
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Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
Labor Market Area | Apr 2021 | Apr 2020 | Over the Year Change |
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Rockford MSA |
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Boone County | 10.0 % | 23.3 % | -13.3 | ||
Winnebago County | 9.7 % | 22.3 % | -12.6 | ||
Cities |
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Belvidere City | 13.0 % | 27.4 % | -14.4 | ||
Freeport City | 7.7 % | 15.6 % | -7.9 | ||
Rockford City | 11.7 % | 24.1 % | -12.4 | ||
Counties |
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Bureau County | 5.1 % | 14.5 % | -9.4 | ||
Carroll County | 4.5 % | 16.8 % | -12.3 | ||
DeKalb County | 6.1 % | 15.1 % | -9.0 | ||
Henry County | 5.3 % | 15.5 % | -10.2 | ||
Jo Daviess County | 4.8 % | 18.9 % | -14.1 | ||
Kane County | 6.4 % | 17.1 % | -10.7 | ||
Lee County | 4.6 % | 13.1 % | -8.5 | ||
McHenry County | 5.7 % | 15.1 % | -9.4 | ||
Ogle County | 6.2 % | 15.6 % | -9.4 | ||
Stephenson County | 5.9 % | 13.4 % | -7.5 | ||
Whiteside County | 5.0 % | 16.3 % | -11.3 |
Rockford MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 9.7 percent in April 2021 from 22.5 percent in April 2020. The last time the April rate was equal to or lower was in 2019 when it was 4.6 percent.
Total nonfarm employment increased +7,600 compared to April 2020.
The Leisure-Hospitality (+3,900), Retail Trade (+1,400), Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+1,200), Other Services (+900), Educational-Health Services (+800), and Construction (+600) had the largest payroll gains over the year. The Manufacturing sector recorded employment declines of ( -2,300) over-the-year.
Ogle County
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 6.2 percent in April 2021 from 15.6 percent in April 2020. The last time the April rate was equal to or lower was in 2019 when it was 4.3 percent.
Total nonfarm employment increased +1,325 over the year.
The Trade-Transportation-Utilities (-125) and Professional-Business Services (-100) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago. Construction (+775), Leisure-Hospitality (+525), Government (+125), Financial Activities (+75), and Other Services (+50) had the largest payroll gains over the year.
Stephenson County
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.9 percent in April 2021 from 13.4 percent in April 2020. The last time the April rate was equal to or lower was in 2019 when it was 3.8 percent.
Total nonfarm employment increased +1,025 over the year.
The Manufacturing (-125) sector recorded employment declines compared to one year ago. Leisure-Hospitality (+300), Trade-Transportation-Utilities (+250), Construction (+225), Other Services (+175), Educational-Health Services (+100), and Financial Activities (+75) had payroll gains over the year.
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.
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