Unemployment Rates Drop in All Metro Areas in Illinois – Job Growth Uneven
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Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
| Metropolitan Area | Feb. 2015 | Feb. 2014 | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 5.0% | 6.8% | -1.8 |
| Carbondale-Marion | 6.2% | 8.6% | -2.4 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 5.2% | 7.4% | -2.2 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 6.6% | 8.8% | -2.2 |
| Danville | 7.2% | 10.9% | -3.7 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 6.0% | 7.4% | -1.4 |
| Decatur | 7.3% | 11.1% | -3.8 |
| Elgin | 6.3% | 8.9% | -2.6 |
| Kankakee | 7.2% | 10.4% | -3.2 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 6.0% | 8.4% | -2.4 |
| Peoria | 6.6% | 9.1% | -2.5 |
| Rockford | 7.0% | 10.0% | -3.0 |
| Springfield | 5.6% | 7.5% | -1.9 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) | 6.3% | 9.1% | -2.8 |
| Illinois Statewide | 6.5% | 8.8% | -2.3 |
| * Data subject to revision. |
CHICAGO, IL – February was the twelfth month in a row that unemployment rates fell in every metro area in the state compared to a year ago, according to preliminary data released today by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Rates also fell in all 102 counties for the eleventh consecutive month and the twelfth time out of the past fourteen months. Not seasonally adjusted data compares February 2015 with February 2014.
Illinois businesses added jobs in nine metros. Largest increases: Danville (+3.5 percent, +1,000), Champaign-Urbana (+2.3 percent, +2,400) and Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division (+1.7 percent, +58,200). Decreases: Carbondale-Marion (-0.7 percent, -400), Bloomington (-0.5 percent, -500) and Peoria (-0.5 percent,
-900). The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metros were Retail Trade (10 of 14), Government (9 of 14), Mining and Construction (8 of 14), Transportation, Warehousing and Public Utilities (8 of 14) and Education and Health Services (8 of 14).
“More Illinoisans are finding work as unemployment rates continue falling across the state. However, over-the-year, nearly 85 percent of the state’s job growth occurred in the northeastern part of the state. This regional job growth has masked losses in Peoria, Bloomington, Carbondale-Marion and the Quad Cities.†IDES Director Jeff Mays said. “Job growth needs to occur in all areas for a successful recovery.â€
The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 6.5 percent in February 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 5.8 percent in February 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.
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – February 2015
| Metropolitan Area | February 2015* |
February 2014** |
Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington MSA | 94,200 | 94,700 | -500 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 53,600 | 54,000 | -400 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 108,500 | 106,100 | 2,400 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Div. | 3,549,200 | 3,491,000 | 58,200 |
| Danville MSA | 29,400 | 28,400 | 1,000 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA | 179,200 | 179,600 | -400 |
| Decatur MSA | 49,700 | 49,800 | -100 |
| Elgin Metro Division | 245,400 | 241,600 | 3,800 |
| Kankakee MSA | 44,100 | 43,500 | 600 |
| Lake County-Kenosha County IL-WI Metro Div. | 389,400 | 385,800 | 3,600 |
| Peoria MSA | 174,000 | 174,900 | -900 |
| Rockford MSA | 148,900 | 146,500 | 2,400 |
| Springfield MSA | 110,000 | 108,600 | 1,400 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 225,900 | 225,100 | 800 |
| Illinois Statewide | 5,809,400 | 5,732,100 | 77,300 |
| *Preliminary   **Revised | |||
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Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
| Labor Market Area | Feb. 15 | Feb. 14 | Over-the-Year Change |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin IL-IN-WI MSA | 6.7% | 8.8% | -2.1 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division | |||
| Cook County | 6.8% | 9.1% | -2.3 |
| DuPage County | 5.3% | 7.0% | -1.7 |
| Grundy County | 8.5% | 11.6% | -3.1 |
| Kendall County | 6.0% | 8.1% | -2.1 |
| McHenry County | 6.4% | 8.4% | -2.0 |
| Will County | 7.1% | 9.5% | -2.4 |
| Elgin, IL Metro Division | |||
| DeKalb County | 5.9% | 8.4% | -2.5 |
| Kane County | 6.3% | 9.0% | -2.7 |
| Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division | |||
| Lake County | 6.0% | 8.6% | -2.6 |
| Cities (with total population of at least 100,000) * | |||
| Aurora City | 6.2% | 8.7% | -2.5 |
| Chicago City | 7.1% | 9.3% | -2.2 |
| Elgin City | 8.7% | 11.7% | -3.0 |
| Joliet City | 9.0% | 11.7% | -2.7 |
| Naperville City | 4.9% | 6.3% | -1.4 |
* 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 6.0 percent in February 2015 from 8.4 percent in February 2014. The last time the February rate was equal to or lower was in 2007 when it was 5.4 percent. For the month of February 2015, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 26,700.
Total nonfarm employment increased +3,600 compared to February 2015. Retail Trade (+1,600), Construction (+1,400) and Manufacturing (+1,100) reported the largest payroll gains. The Professional-Business Services (-1,900) 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 6.6 percent in February 2015 from 8.8 percent in February 2014. The last time the February rate was equal to or lower was in 2008 when it was 5.7 percent. For the month of February 2015, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 249,700.
Total nonfarm employment increased +58,200 compared to February 2014. Professional-Business Services (+18,800), Educational-Health Services (+11,800), and Retail Trade (+10,300) reported the largest payroll gains. Manufacturing (-3,000) and Wholesale Trade (-2,500) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.
Elgin, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 6.3 percent in February 2015 from 8.9 percent in February 2014. The last time the February rate was equal to or lower was in 2008 when it was 5.7 percent. For the month of February 2015, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 19,500.
Total nonfarm employment increased +3,800 compared to February 2014. Construction (+1,500), Leisure-Hospitality (+1,400), Government (+1,300) Wholesale Trade (+900), and Manufacturing reported the largest payroll gains. The Professional-Business Services (-2,400) sector recorded the largest employment decline 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.
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