Unemployment Rates Increase in All Metro Areas
Illinois continues to lag behind nation in job growth despite jobs increase
CHICAGO, IL – Unemployment rates increased in all of the metro areas compared to last year, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). The increase in the unemployment rate in most metropolitan areas is partially due to more people looking for work.
“Illinois’ overall job growth rate remains among the slowest in the country and metro area unemployment rates continue to rise, even with an increase in jobs in February,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “Structural reforms will provide the resources we need to more effectively build a stronger workforce and help communities towards achieving economic stability.”
Illinois businesses added jobs in eight metros, in which the largest increases were seen in: Lake-Kenosha (+2.3 percent, +8,800), Rockford (+2.1 percent, +3,100), and Champaign (+1.9, +2,000). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division increased (+1.7 percent or +62,100). Illinois businesses lost jobs in six metro areas including Bloomington (-1.9 percent, -1,800), the Quad Cities (-1.2 percent, -2,100), and Carbondale-Marion (-0.9 percent, -500). The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metros were: Retail (11 of 14), Education and Health Services (11 of 14), Government (10 of 14), Leisure and Hospitality (nine of 14), Professional and Business Services (eight of 14), and Other Services (eight of 14).
Not seasonally adjusted data compares February 2016 with February 2015. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 7.0 percent in February 2016 and stood at 12.2 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.2 percent in February 2016 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 |
February 2016 |
February 2015 |
Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington |
6.3% |
5.0% |
1.3 |
| Carbondale-Marion |
7.2% |
6.0% |
1.2 |
| Champaign-Urbana |
6.2% |
5.4% |
0.8 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights |
6.7% |
6.5% |
0.2 |
| Danville |
8.4% |
7.4% |
1.0 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL |
6.8% |
6.1% |
0.7 |
| Decatur |
8.2% |
7.4% |
0.8 |
| Elgin |
7.1% |
6.4% |
0.7 |
| Kankakee |
8.1% |
7.4% |
0.7 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI |
6.7% |
6.1% |
0.6 |
| Peoria |
8.1% |
6.7% |
1.4 |
| Rockford |
8.0% |
7.2% |
0.8 |
| Springfield |
6.3% |
5.7% |
0.6 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) |
7.2% |
6.4% |
0.8 |
| Illinois Statewide |
7.0% |
6.5% |
0.5 |
|
* Data subject to revision. |
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – February 2016
| Metropolitan Area |
February |
February |
Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington MSA |
93,500 |
95,300 |
-1,800 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA |
56,400 |
56,900 |
-500 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA |
109,800 |
107,800 |
2,000 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division |
3,623,500 |
3,561,400 |
62,100 |
| Danville MSA |
29,000 |
29,200 |
-200 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA |
177,800 |
179,900 |
-2,100 |
| Decatur MSA |
49,900 |
50,200 |
-300 |
| Elgin Metro Division |
250,600 |
246,100 |
4,500 |
| Kankakee MSA |
44,600 |
43,800 |
800 |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division |
397,100 |
388,300 |
8,800 |
|
Peoria MSA |
175,000 |
175,600 |
-600 |
|
Rockford MSA |
150,700 |
147,600 |
3,100 |
|
Springfield MSA |
111,400 |
110,000 |
1,400 |
|
Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA |
234,000 |
230,000 |
4,000 |
| Illinois Statewide |
5,888,100 |
5,819,900 |
68,200 |
| *Preliminary **Revised | |||
(continued)
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
| Labor Market Area |
Feb-16 |
Feb-15 |
Over-the-Year Change |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin IL-IN-WI MSA |
6.8% |
6.5% |
0.3 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division | |||
| Cook County |
6.9% |
6.7% |
0.2 |
| DuPage County |
5.5% |
5.2% |
0.3 |
| Grundy County |
8.7% |
8.4% |
0.3 |
| Kendall County |
6.2% |
5.9% |
0.3 |
| McHenry County |
6.5% |
6.3% |
0.2 |
| Will County |
7.2% |
7.0% |
0.2 |
| Elgin, IL Metro Division | |||
| DeKalb County |
6.8% |
6.1% |
0.7 |
| Kane County |
7.2% |
6.5% |
0.7 |
|
Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division |
|||
| Lake County |
6.9% |
6.2% |
0.7 |
| Cities (with total population of at least 100,000) * | |||
| Aurora City |
6.7% |
6.2% |
0.5 |
| Chicago City |
7.2% |
6.9% |
0.3 |
| Elgin City |
5.5% |
4.6% |
0.9 |
| Joliet City |
6.2% |
5.7% |
0.5 |
| Naperville City |
4.9% |
4.8% |
0.1 |
* 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 increased to 6.7 percent in February 2016 from 6.1 percent in February 2015. For the month of February 2016, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 30,900.
Total nonfarm employment increased +8,800 compared to February 2015. Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+3,200) Wholesale Trade (+1,500), and Manufacturing (+1,200) reported the largest payroll gains. The Professional-Business Services (-500) sector recorded an employment decline compared to one year ago.
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 6.7 percent in February 2016 from 6.5 percent in February 2015. For the month of February 2016, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 257,300.
Total nonfarm employment increased +62,100 compared to February 2015. Leisure-Hospitality (+18,200), Educational-Health Services (+14,400), Government (+9,000), Retail Trade (6,600), and Construction (+6,300) reported the largest payroll gains. The Manufacturing (-1,600) sector recorded employment declines compared to one year ago.
Elgin, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 7.1 percent in February 2016 from 6.4 percent in February 2015. For the month of February 2016, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 23,000.
Total nonfarm employment increased +4,500 compared to February 2015. Leisure-Hospitality (+1,600), Construction (+1,500), Retail Trade (+900), Government (+800), and Educational-Health Services (+800) reported the largest payroll gains. The Professional-Business Services (-1,200), Wholesale Trade (-400), Information (-100), and Financial Activities (-100) sectors declined compared to one year ago.
