Jobs up in Eight Metro Areas - Unemployment rate up in most metros

Contact: Bob Gough  |  Phone: 217-685-4454    March_Metro2019.pdf

3/28/19 - ​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

Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – February 2019