Agencies
Services
Announcement – Thursday, January 30, 2020
Unemployment Rate Down in All Fourteen Metro Areas, Jobs Up in Ten - Record Lows in December for Three Metros, 33 Counties
Contact: Rebecca Cisco | 217.524.1219
PDF Version
1/30/20 - The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in December in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas, 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 shows the number of nonfarm jobs increased in ten Illinois metropolitan areas, decreased in three, and was unchanged in one.
“Under Governor Pritzker’s leadership, we now have the lowest unemployment rate in state history with the most jobs on record,” said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. “The governor is committed to building on this progress by attracting new businesses to Illinois, putting people to work on our infrastructure and creating opportunities for communities that have been left behind for too long.”
Illinois businesses added jobs in ten metro areas, with the largest percentage increases in: Champaign (+3.4%, +3,800), Carbondale (+1.9%, +1,100) and Decatur (+1.3%, +700). Total nonfarm jobs were down in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL (-1.3%, -2,500), Peoria (-1.1%, -2,000) and Rockford (-1.0%, -1,500).
The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas included Education and Health Services (10 of 14), Government (10 of 14) and Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (8 of 14).
Not seasonally adjusted data compares December 2019 with December 2018. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 3.5 percent in December 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 3.4 percent in December 2019 and 10.6 percent in January 2010, at its peak. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
| Metropolitan Area | December 2019* | December 2018** |
Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 3.4% | 4.7% | -1.3 |
| Carbondale-Marion | 3.7% | 5.2% | -1.5 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 3.3% | 4.6% | -1.3 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 2.8% | 3.6% | -0.8 |
| Danville | 5.3% | 6.7% | -1.4 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 4.5% | 4.7% | -0.2 |
| Decatur | 5.1% | 6.3% | -1.2 |
| Elgin | 4.4% | 5.8% | -1.4 |
| Kankakee | 5.4% | 6.4% | -1.0 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 4.0% | 5.0% | -1.0 |
| Peoria | 4.6% | 5.8% | -1.2 |
| Rockford | 5.8% | 6.4% | -0.6 |
| Springfield | 3.6% | 5.0% | -1.4 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) | 3.7% | 5.1% | -1.4 |
| Illinois Statewide | 3.5% |
4.4% | -0.9 |
| * Preliminary | **Revised | | | |
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – December 2019
| Metropolitan Area | December 2019* |
December 2018** |
Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington MSA | 92,600 | 92,200 | 400 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 59,700 | 58,600 | 1,100 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 115,800 | 112,000 | 3,800 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,857,100 | 3,826,800 | 30,300 |
| Danville MSA | 27,600 | 27,600 | 0 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 186,100 | 188,600 | -2,500 |
| Decatur MSA | 52,700 | 52,000 | 700 |
| Elgin Metro Division | 268,300 | 265,800 | 2,500 |
| Kankakee MSA | 47,300 | 46,900 | 400 |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 431,200 | 428,800 | 2,400 |
| Peoria MSA | 174,400 | 176,400 | -2,000 |
| Rockford MSA | 153,300 | 154,800 | -1,500 |
| Springfield MSA | 115,800 | 115,100 | 700 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 245,600 | 242,600 | 3,000 |
| Illinois Statewide | 6,228,000 | 6,183,800 | 44,200 |
| *Preliminary | **Revised |