Job Losses Reported in More Than Half of the Metro Areas -

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Unemployment rate declines in most areas

CHICAGO, IL –Unemployment rates were down over-the-year in all but one of Illinois’s metro areas. Six of the metro areas had increases in nonfarm jobs and eight reported declines, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).

“This month’s report almost mirrors last month’s,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “The only difference is the overall increase in jobs is down when compared to last month. Even though the unemployment rate is lower, we still don’t have enough people working.”

Illinois businesses added jobs in six metro areas, in which the largest increases were seen in: Kankakee (+1.1 percent, +500), Elgin (+0.6 percent, +1,500), and Springfield (+0.6 percent, +700). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division increased (+0.8 percent or +28,500). Illinois businesses lost jobs in eight metro areas including Carbondale-Marion (-2.6 percent, -1,500), Rockford (-2.3 percent, -3,500), and Peoria (-1.5 percent, -2,600). The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas were: Education and Health Services (10 of 14), Professional and Business Services (nine of 14) and Mining and Construction (eight of 14).

Not seasonally adjusted data compares March 2017 with March 2016. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 4.7 percent in March 2017 and stood at 12.2 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.6 percent in March 2017 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.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Metropolitan Area	Mar. 2017	Mar. 2016	Over-the-Year Change
Bloomington	4.3%	5.5%	-1.2
Carbondale-Marion	5.0%	6.3%	-1.3
Champaign-Urbana	4.5%	5.4%	-0.9
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights	4.2%	6.3%	-2.1
Danville	6.4%	7.9%	-1.5
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	4.8%	6.0%	-1.2
Decatur	5.7%	7.1%	-1.4
Elgin	5.4%	6.4%	-1.0
Kankakee	5.9%	7.3%	-1.4
Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI	5.0%	6.0%	-1.0
Peoria	6.0%	7.1%	-1.1
Rockford	8.3%	7.2%	1.1
Springfield	4.4%	5.5%	-1.1
St. Louis (IL-Section)	4.7%	6.3%	-1.6
Illinois Statewide	4.7%	6.4%	-1.7
* Data subject to revision.

Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – March 2017

Metropolitan Area	Mar. 2017*	Mar. 2016**		Over-the-Year Change
Bloomington MSA	93,400	93,600	-200
Carbondale-Marion MSA	56,800	58,300	-1,500
Champaign-Urbana MSA	110,600	110,100	500
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division	3,682,100	3,653,600	28,500
Danville MSA	28,400	28,700	-300
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA	181,500	180,700	800
Decatur MSA	51,100	51,200	-100
Elgin Metro Division	249,900	248,400	1,500
Kankakee MSA	44,000	43,500	500
Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division	400,600	402,300	-1,700
Peoria MSA	172,100	174,700	-2,600
Rockford MSA	146,600	150,100	-3,500
Springfield MSA	114,700	114,000	700
Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA	235,100	235,200	-100
Illinois Statewide	5,962,800	5,935,200	27,600
	Preliminary *Revised

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas

Labor Market Area	Mar-17	Mar-16	Over-the-Year Change
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin IL-IN-WI MSA	4.5%	6.3%	-1.8
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division
Cook County	4.4%	6.5%	-2.1
DuPage County	3.4%	5.1%	-1.7
Grundy County	5.6%	7.9%	-2.3
Kendall County	3.9%	5.7%	-1.8
McHenry County	4.2%	6.0%	-1.8
Will County	4.6%	6.7%	-2.1
Elgin, IL Metro Division
DeKalb County	5.3%	6.0%	-0.7
Kane County	5.4%	6.5%	-1.1
Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division
Lake County	5.2%	6.1%	-0.9
Cities (with total population of at least 100,000) *
Aurora City	4.8%	6.1%	-1.3
Chicago City	4.5%	6.8%	-2.3
Elgin City	6.8%	8.2%	-1.4
Joliet City	5.9%	8.4%	-2.5
Naperville City	3.1%	4.7%	-1.6

* Unemployment rates for cities with total population of 25,000 or more can be found atwww.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 5.0 percent in March 2017 from 6.0 percent in March 2016. The last time the March rate was equal to or lower than the current rate was in 2001 when it was 4.8 percent. For the month of March 2017, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 22,900.

Total nonfarm employment declined -1,700 compared to March 2016. The Leisure-Hospitality (-3,200) and Professional-Business Services (-2,200) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago. Manufacturing (+1,400), Government (+700), and Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+700) sectors reported the largest payroll gains.

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 4.2 percent in March 2017 from 6.3 percent in March 2016. The March 2017 unemployment rate of 4.2 percent is the lowest March unemployment rate since 1990. For the month of March 2017, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 158,900.

Total nonfarm employment increased +28,500 compared to March 2016. Financial Activities (+10,200), Leisure-Hospitality (+9,200), and Educational-Health Services (+7,900) reported the largest payroll gains. The Manufacturing (-1,800), Construction (-1,500), and Retail Trade (-1,100) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.

Elgin, IL Metro Division

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.4 percent in March 2017 from 6.4 percent in March 2016. The last time the March rate was equal to or lower than the current rate was in 2007 when it was 4.3 percent. For the month of March 2017, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 17,400.

Total nonfarm employment increased +1,500 compared to March 2016. Educational-Health Services (+1,300), Government (+1,000), and Wholesale Trade (+800) reported the largest payroll gains. Construction (-600), Leisure-Hospitality
(-600), Manufacturing (-300), and Other Services
(-300) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.

Note:
Monthly 2016 unemployment rates and total non-farm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2017, 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.

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