Downstate Illinois Still Lagging in Job Growth
Unemployment Rates Continue Falling in All Metro Areas
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
CHICAGO, IL – June was the 16th month in a row that unemployment rates fell in every metro area in Illinois compared to a year ago, but job growth is still slow downstate, according to preliminary data released today by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Unemployment rates also fell in all of Illinois’s 102 counties for the 14th time in the last fifteen months. Not seasonally adjusted data compares June 2015 with June 2014.
Illinois businesses added jobs in eight metros. The largest increases were seen in: Elgin Metro Division (+1.9 percent, +4,900), Danville (+1.7 percent, +500) and Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division (+1.3 percent or +47,900). Decreases were seen in: Carbondale-Marion (-2.2 percent, -1,200), Peoria (-1.3 percent, -2,400) and Decatur (-1.0 percent, -500). The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metros were Retail Trade (nine of 14) Transportation, Warehousing and Public Utilities (nine of 14), Professional and Business Services (eight of 14), and Leisure and Hospitality (eight of 14).
“In looking at the metro data, collar counties gained more net jobs than the total statewide gain. Given the statewide gain of 44,500 jobs total, the rest of the state had a net loss,†IDES Director Jeff Mays said. “The need for a full statewide recovery remains.â€
The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 5.9 percent in June 2015 and stood at 12.2 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in June 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.
| Metropolitan Area | June 2015 | June 2014 | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 4.6% | 5.8% | -1.2 |
| Carbondale-Marion | 5.7% | 6.9% | -1.2 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 4.9% | 6.2% | -1.3 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 6.3% | 7.3% | -1.0 |
| Danville | 6.5% | 8.5% | -2.0 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 5.0% | 6.0% | -1.0 |
| Decatur | 6.6% | 8.6% | -2.0 |
| Elgin | 5.0% | 6.6% | -1.6 |
| Kankakee | 6.0% | 7.9% | -1.9 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 4.7% | 6.1% | -1.4 |
| Peoria | 5.7% | 7.0% | -1.3 |
| Rockford | 6.1% | 7.9% | -1.8 |
| Springfield | 4.6% | 5.8% | -1.2 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) | 5.5% | 7.1% | -1.6 |
| Illinois Statewide | 5.9% | 7.1% | -1.2 |
| * Data subject to revision. |
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – June 2015
| Metropolitan Area | June 2015* |
June 2014** |
Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington MSA | 93,800 | 93,300 | 500 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 54,100 | 55,300 | -1,200 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 104,600 | 103,400 | 1,200 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Div. | 3,667,600 | 3,619,700 | 47,900 |
| Danville MSA | 29,600 | 29,100 | 500 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA | 185,000 | 186,600 | -1,600 |
| Decatur MSA | 50,700 | 51,200 | -500 |
| Elgin Metro Division | 257,500 | 252,600 | 4,900 |
| Kankakee MSA | 44,900 | 44,500 | 400 |
| Lake County-Kenosha County IL-WI Metro Div. | 414,300 | 409,900 | 4,400 |
| Peoria MSA | 179,000 | 181,400 | -2,400 |
| Rockford MSA | 153,500 | 152,000 | 1,500 |
| Springfield MSA | 112,700 | 112,900 | -200 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 230,200 | 232,400 | -2,200 |
| Illinois Statewide | 5,973,200 | 5,928,700 | 44,500 |
| *Preliminary   **Revised | |||
(continued)
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
| Labor Market Area | Jun-15 | Jun-14 | Over-the-Year Change | |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin IL-IN-WI MSA | 6.0% | 7.1% | -1.1 | |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division | ||||
| Cook County | 6.5% | 7.6% | -1.1 | |
| DuPage County | 5.1% | 5.9% | -0.8 | |
| Grundy County | 7.1% | 8.7% | -1.6 | |
| Kendall County | 5.5% | 6.6% | -1.1 | |
| McHenry County | 5.5% | 6.4% | -0.9 | |
| Will County | 6.4% | 7.6% | -1.2 | |
| Elgin, IL Metro Division | ||||
| DeKalb County | 5.0% | 6.4% | -1.4 | |
| Kane County | 5.0% | 6.6% | -1.6 | |
| Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division | ||||
| Lake County | 4.6% | 6.1% | -1.5 | |
| Cities (with total population of at least 100,000) * | ||||
| Aurora City | 5.5% | 7.0% | -1.5 | |
| Chicago City | 6.9% | 7.9% | -1.0 | |
| Elgin City | 5.5% | 7.1% | -1.6 | |
| Joliet City | 8.0% | 9.2% | -1.2 | |
| Naperville City | 5.2% | 6.1% | -0.9 | |
* Unemployment rates for cities with total population of 25,000 or more can be found at www.ides.illinois.gov/LMI/Pages/Current_Monthly_Unemployment_Rates.aspx
Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 4.7 percent in June 2015 from 6.1 percent in June 2014. The last time the June rate was equal to or lower was in 2006 when it was 4.4 percent. For the month of June 2015, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 21,800.
Total nonfarm employment increased +4,400 compared to June 2015. Retail Trade (+1,400), Professional-Business Services (+1,100), and Financial Activities (+1,100) reported the largest payroll gains. The Leisure-Hospitality (-2,200) sector recorded the largest employment decline compared to one year ago.
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 6.3 percent in June 2015 from 7.3 percent in June 2014. The last time the June rate was equal to or lower was in 2007 when it was 5.5 percent. For the month of June 2015, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 240,100.
Total nonfarm employment increased +47,900 compared to June 2014. Professional-Business Services (+15,300), Educational-Health Services (+14,900), and Construction (+5,800) reported the largest payroll gains. Manufacturing (-4,500) and Financial Activities (-3,400) sectors recorded employment declines compared to one year ago.
Elgin, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.0 percent in June 2015 from 6.6 percent in June 2014. The last time the June rate was equal to or lower was in 2007 when it was 4.7 percent. For the month of June 2015, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 16,100.
Total nonfarm employment increased +4,900 compared to June 2014. Professional-Business Services (+1,600), Wholesale Trade (+1,600), and Educational-Health Services (+800) reported the largest payroll gains. The Other Services (-200), Manufacturing (-100), and Financial Activities
(-100) sectors recorded employment declines compared to one year ago.
Note:
- Monthly 2014 unemployment rates and total non-farm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February 2015, as required by the U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (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.
