Unemployment rate up in most metros
CHICAGO–Unemployment rates increased over-the-year in February in ten of Illinois’s metropolitan areas, decreased in two, and was unchanged in two, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). Data also show nonfarm jobs increased in eight of the metropolitan areas.
Illinois businesses added jobs in eight metro areas, with the largest percentage increases in: Peoria (+2.4%, +4,000), Carbondale-Marion (+2.1%, +1,200), Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights (+1.4%, +51,600), and Lake-Kenosha (+1.4%, +5,600). The metro areas showing an over-the-year decrease in total nonfarm jobs were Danville (-2.2%, -600), Bloomington (-1.4%, -1,300), St. Louis-IL Section (-0.4%, -1,000), and Champaign-Urbana (-0.4%, -400).
The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas included Manufacturing (10 of 14), Professional and Business Services (9 of 14), Mining and Construction (8 of 14), and Government (8 of 14).
Not seasonally adjusted data compares February 2019 with February 2018. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 4.7 percent in February 2019 and stood at 12.2 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in February 2019 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 |
Feb. 2019 |
Feb. 2018 |
Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington |
4.8% |
4.3% |
0.5 |
| Carbondale-Marion |
5.0% |
5.0% |
0.0 |
| Champaign-Urbana |
4.8% |
4.4% |
0.4 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights |
4.0% |
4.6% |
-0.6 |
| Danville |
6.3% |
6.6% |
-0.3 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL |
4.8% |
4.8% |
0.0 |
| Decatur |
6.2% |
5.7% |
0.5 |
| Elgin |
5.9% |
5.3% |
0.6 |
| Kankakee |
6.7% |
6.1% |
0.6 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI |
5.3% |
5.0% |
0.3 |
| Peoria |
6.0% |
5.7% |
0.3 |
| Rockford |
6.4% |
5.7% |
0.7 |
| Springfield |
5.1% |
4.6% |
0.5 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) |
5.1% |
4.8% |
0.3 |
| Illinois Statewide |
4.7% |
4.9% |
-0.2 |
| * Data subject to revision. | |||
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – February 2019
| Metropolitan Area |
February 2019* |
February 2018** |
Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington MSA |
91.800 |
93,100 |
-1,300 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA |
58,500 |
57,300 |
1,200 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA |
110,800 |
111,200 |
-400 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division |
3,749,100 |
3,697,500 |
51,600 |
| Danville MSA |
27,000 |
27,600 |
-600 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA |
183,500 |
182,000 |
1,500 |
| Decatur MSA |
51,100 |
51,200 |
-100 |
| Elgin Metro Division |
259,100 |
255,700 |
3,400 |
| Kankakee MSA |
45,000 |
44,700 |
300 |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division |
415,100 |
409,500 |
5,600 |
| Peoria MSA |
172,900 |
168,900 |
4,000 |
| Rockford MSA |
151,300 |
150,500 |
800 |
| Springfield MSA |
112,100 |
112,200 |
-100 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA |
236,600 |
237,600 |
-1,000 |
| Illinois Statewide |
6,055,100 |
5,994,600 |
60,500 |
|
*Preliminary **Revised |
|
|
|
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
|
Feb. 2019 |
Feb. 2018 |
Over-the-Year Change |
|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin IL-IN-WI MSA |
4.3% |
4.8% |
-0.5 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division | |||
| Cook County |
4.0% |
4.7% |
-0.7 |
| DuPage County |
3.2% |
3.7% |
-0.5 |
| Grundy County |
5.8% |
6.6% |
-0.8 |
| Kendall County |
3.9% |
4.3% |
-0.4 |
| McHenry County |
4.0% |
4.5% |
-0.5 |
| Will County |
4.4% |
5.1% |
-0.7 |
| Elgin, IL Metro Division | |||
| DeKalb County |
5.2% |
4.7% |
0.5 |
| Kane County |
6.1% |
5.5% |
0.6 |
| Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division | |||
| Lake County |
5.7% |
5.2% |
0.5 |
| Cities (with total population of at least 100,000) * | |||
| Aurora City |
5.2% |
4.8% |
0.4 |
| Chicago City |
4.1% |
4.9% |
-0.8 |
| Elgin City |
7.6% |
7.3% |
0.3 |
| Joliet City |
5.7% |
6.6% |
-0.9 |
| Naperville City |
2.7% |
3.3% |
-0.6 |
* Unemployment rates for cities with total population of 25,000 or more can be found at www.ides.illinois.gov/LMI/
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 4.0 percent in February 2019 from 4.6 percent in February 2018. The February 2019 unemployment rate of 4.0 percent is the lowest February unemployment rate on record. For the month of February 2019, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 147,500.
Total nonfarm employment increased +51,600 compared to February 2018. Educational-Health Services (+17,900), Transportation-Warehousing-
Elgin, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 5.9 percent in February 2019 from 5.3 percent in February 2018. For the month of February 2019, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 19,500.
Total nonfarm employment increased +3,400 compared to February 2018. The Manufacturing (+1,900), Government (+1,500), and Wholesale Trade (+600) sectors reported the largest payroll gains. The Professional-Business Services (-1,100) sector recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.
Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 5.3 percent in February 2019 from 5.0 percent in February 2018. For the month of February 2019, the estimated number of unemployed people in the labor force was 25,000.
Total nonfarm employment increased +5,600 compared to February 2018. Professional-Business Services (+2,200), Leisure-Hospitality (+1,500), and Construction (+1,400) sectors reported the largest payroll gains. The Transportation-Warehousing-
Note: Monthly 2018 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2019, 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.
