Chicagoland adds 54,000 jobs and unemployment rate falls to 8.2 percent

Cold, Temporary Mining Slowdown Pressures Downstate Rates

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

CHICAGO, IL – The December unemployment rate in the Chicago‑Joliet‑Naperville Metro Division fell 0.4 to reach 8.2 percent, the lowest rating since December 2008, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). Not seasonally adjusted data compares December 2013 to December 2012.

Illinois businesses added jobs in four metros. Largest increases: Lake-Kenosha (+2.6 percent, +10,100), Chicago-Joliet-Naperville (+1.4 percent, +54,400), Springfield (+0.7 percent, +800). Largest decreases: Decatur (-1.9 percent, -1,000), Bloomington-Normal (-1.5 percent, ‑1,400) and Champaign-Urbana (-1.0 percent, -1,100). Much of these decreases continue to reflect a temporary slowdown in global manufacturing demand. Industry sectors recording job growth in the most metros: Education and Health Services (eight of 12), Retail Trade (eight of 12), and Leisure and Hospitality (seven of 12).

Not seasonally adjusted data compares the current month to the same month of the previous year. The December 2013 not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 8.6 percent and 12.2 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in December and 10.6 percent in January 2010 at its peak. The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and looking for work and is not tied to collecting unemployment insurance benefits. Historically, the state unemployment rate is higher than the national rate.

Total Non-farm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – December 2013