Area employers advertised for 10,700 positions in November and approximately 76 percent sought full-time employment, according to Help Wanted OnLine data compiled by the Conference Board, which is a global, independent business membership and research association. Employers actually need more workers than the help wanted advertising indicates because some industries, such as Construction, typically do not post advertised job openings.
Bloomington MSA: The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 4.0 percent in November 2018 from 3.7 percent in November 2017. There were an estimated 3,900 unemployed people in the labor force in November 2018.
Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased by (+200) compared to one year ago. Job gains were reported in Leisure & Hospitality (+500), Government (+200), Professional & Business Services (+200), and Educational & Health Services (+200). Declines were reported in Retail Trade (-500), Financial Activities (-200), Manufacturing (-100), and Wholesale Trade (-100). All other major industry sectors were little changed compared to a year ago.
Peoria MSA: The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 4.8 percent in November 2018 from 4.6 percent in November 2017. There were an estimated 8,700 unemployed people in the labor force in November 2018.
Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased by (+1,500). Job gains were reported in Professional & Business Services (+1,900), Manufacturing (+400), and Transportation, Warehousing, & Utilities (+300). Declines were reported in Leisure & Hospitality (-400), Government (-200), Educational & Health Services (-200), Construction (-200), and Retail Trade (-100). All other major industry sectors were stable compared to last year.
Ottawa-Streator Area: The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 5.4 percent in November 2018 from 4.6 percent in November 2017. There were an estimated 4,100 unemployed people in the labor force in November 2018. Over the year, nonfarm payrolls increased by (+200) compared to a year ago. The largest gains occurred in Manufacturing (+150) and Leisure & Hospitality (+100). Declines were reported in Educational & Health Services (-125), Financial Activities (-75), and Professional & Business Services (-50). All other major industry sectors were stable compared to last year.
Galesburg Area: The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 5.2 percent in November 2018 from 4.4 percent in November 2017. Nonfarm payroll employment decreased by (-300). The largest gain occurred in Leisure & Hospitality (+100). The largest decline was in Professional & Business Services (-100) from a year ago.
Pontiac Area: The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 4.1 percent in November 2018 from 3.8 percent in November 2017. Nonfarm payroll employment decreased by
(-100). Job gains were reported in Government (+50), and Manufacturing declined by (-100) from a year ago.
Note: Monthly 2017 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2018, as required by the U.S. 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.