SPRINGFIELD - Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs increased in seven metropolitan areas and decreased in seven for the year ending November 2024, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES). Over-the-year, the unemployment rate increased in seven areas, decreased in five, and was unchanged in two.
"As job growth reaches across the state, we remain committed to investing in the necessary tools and resources for the state's strong economic landscape," said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. "IDES continues to assist in matching jobseekers with employers to ensure both are finding the right fit for their needs."
The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Champaign-Urbana MSA (+1.7%, +2,200), the Carbondale-Marion MSA (+1.3%, +800), the Rockford MSA (+1.2%, +1,800), and the Springfield MSA (+1.2%, +1,300). The metro areas which posted the largest over-the-year decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Danville MSA (-1.5%, -400) and the Peoria MSA (-1.2%, -2,100).Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago Metropolitan Division were down -0.2% or -6,700. Industries that saw job growth in most of the metro areas included: Private Education and Health Services (fourteen areas); Other Services (twelve areas); and Government (eleven areas).
The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate increases were the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (+1.3 points to 5.0%), the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (+1.0 point to 5.0%), and the Danville MSA (+0.6 point to 5.9%). The metro area with the largest unemployment rate decrease was the Rockford MSA (-0.4 percentage point to 5.2%). There was no unemployment rate change in the Carbondale-Marion MSA and Decatur MSA.
Unemployment Rates (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
Metropolitan Area | November 2024* | November 2023** | Over-the-Year Change |
Bloomington | 4.0% | 3.6% | 0.4 |
Carbondale-Marion | 4.0% | 4.0% | 0.0 |
Champaign-Urbana | 3.7% | 3.8% | -0.1 |
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 5.0% | 4.0% | 1.0 |
Danville | 5.9% | 5.3% | 0.6 |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 5.0% | 3.7% | 1.3 |
Decatur | 5.6% | 5.6% | 0.0 |
Elgin | 4.6% | 4.4% | 0.2 |
Kankakee | 5.2% | 5.3% | -0.1 |
Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 4.1% | 4.2% | -0.1 |
Peoria | 4.8% | 4.4% | 0.4 |
Rockford | 5.2% | 5.6% | -0.4 |
Springfield | 4.1% | 3.9% | 0.2 |
St. Louis (IL-Section) | 3.9% | 4.0% | -0.1 |
Illinois Statewide | 4.8% | 4.1% | 0.7 |
* Preliminary I ** Revised | | | |
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - November 2024
Metropolitan Area | November | November | Over-the-Year |
| 2024* | 2023** | Change |
Bloomington MSA | 101,200 | 101,700 | -500 |
Carbondale-Marion MSA | 60,400 | 59,600 | 800 |
Champaign-Urbana MSA | 128,900 | 126,700 | 2,200 |
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,840,900 | 3,847,600 | -6,700 |
Danville MSA | 26,700 | 27,100 | -400 |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 182,900 | 184,900 | -2,000 |
Decatur MSA | 48,200 | 47,700 | 500 |
Elgin Metro Division | 267,200 | 267,600 | -400 |
Kankakee MSA | 43,700 | 43,600 | 100 |
Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 421,500 | 425,100 | -3,600 |
Peoria MSA | 170,600 | 172,700 | -2,100 |
Rockford MSA | 148,600 | 146,800 | 1,800 |
Springfield MSA | 110,100 | 108,800 | 1,300 |
Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 245,100 | 244,100 | 1,000 |
Illinois Statewide | 6,211,500 | 6,175,300 | 36,200 |
*Preliminary | **Revised | | | |
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
Labor Market Area | Nov 2024 | Nov 2023 | Over-the-Year Change | | |
| |
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division | | |
Cook County | 5.3 % | 4.2 % | 1.1 | | |
DuPage County | 4.0 % | 3.2 % | 0.8 | | |
Grundy County | 5.1 % | 3.9 % | 1.2 | | |
Kendall County | 4.4 % | 3.5 % | 0.9 | | |
McHenry County | 4.3 % | 3.4 % | 0.9 | | |
Will County | 4.9 % | 3.8 % | 1.1 | | |
Elgin, IL Metro Division | | | | | |
DeKalb County | 4.3 % | 4.2 % | 0.1 | | |
Kane County | 4.6 % | 4.5 % | 0.1 | | |
Lake & Kenosha, IL-WI Metro Division | | | |
Lake County (IL) | 4.4 % | 4.4 % | 0.0 | | |
Kankakee, IL MSA | | | | | |
Kankakee County | 5.2 % | 5.3 % | -0.1 | | |
Cities | | | | | |
Aurora City | 4.5 % | 4.0 % | 0.5 | | |
Chicago City | 5.7 % | 4.5 % | 1.2 | | |
Elgin City | 5.3 % | 5.1 % | 0.2 | | |
Joliet City | 5.7 % | 4.4 % | 1.3 | | |
Kankakee City | 7.5 % | 7.7 % | -0.2 | | |
Naperville City | 4.1 % | 3.4 % | 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 increased to 5.0 percent in November 2024 from 4.0 percent in November 2023.
Total nonfarm employment decreased -6,700 compared to November 2023. The Private Education-Health Services (+9,100), Other Services (+8,500) and Government (+8,100) sectors had the largest payroll gains over-the-year. The largest employment declines were in Professional-Business Services (-19,100), Leisure-Hospitality (-4,100), Construction (-3,200) and Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (-3,100).
Elgin, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 4.6 percent in November 2024 from 4.4 percent in November 2023.
Total nonfarm employment decreased -400 compared to November 2023. The Government (+800), Private Education-Health Services (+700) and Retail Trade (+600) sectors had the largest payroll gains over-the-year. The Professional-Business Services (-1,500), Leisure-Hospitality (-1,300), Construction (-200) and Financial Activities (-100) sectors had employment declines from a year ago.
Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 4.1 percent in November 2024 from 4.2 percent in November 2023.
Total nonfarm employment decreased -3,600 compared to November 2023. The Private Education-Health Services (+1,100), Government (+400) and Other Services (+300) sectors had the largest payroll gains over-the-year. The Professional-Business Services (-3,000), Financial Activities (-1,000), Leisure-Hospitality (-700) and Construction (-400) sectors had the largest employment declines from a year ago.
Kankakee, IL MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.2 percent in November 2024 from 5.3 percent in November 2023.
Total nonfarm employment increased +100 compared to November 2023. The Private Education-Health Services (+200), Other Services (+100) and Mining-Construction (+100) sectors had payroll gains over-the-year. The Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (-100), Professional-Business Services (-100) and Retail Trade (-100) sectors recorded a declines in employment over-the-year.
Note: Monthly 2023 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2024, 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.
Disclaimer: The data contained in the metro area employment numbers press releases are not seasonally adjusted, and therefore are subject to seasonal fluctuations due to factors such as changes in weather, harvests, major holidays and school schedules. Current monthly metro data should be compared to the same month from prior years (January 2024 data compared to January 2023 data) as data for these months have similar seasonal patterns. Comparisons should not be made to data for the immediate previous month or other previous non-matching months, as any changes in the data within these time periods may be the result of seasonal fluctuations and not economic factors.