Agencies
Services
Announcement – Thursday, March 19, 2020
Unemployment Rate Down in Thirteen Metro Areas - Record Lows in January for Four Metros, 52 Counties
Contact: Rebecca Cisco | 217.524.1219
PDF Version3/19/20 - The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in January in thirteen Illinois metropolitan areas and increased in one, 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 four Illinois metropolitan areas and decreased in ten.
“This administration has spent the past year strengthening our state’s economy by raising workers’ wages, investing in our schools, and securing a much-needed bipartisan capital plan,” said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. “As we enter this period of uncertainty, we remain committed to supporting working families.”
Illinois businesses added jobs in four metro areas, with the largest percentage increases in Champaign-Urbana (+1.9%, +2,000), Kankakee (+1.3%, +600) and Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights (+1.0%, +36,400). Total nonfarm jobs were down in Rockford (-4.2%, -6,300), Peoria (-1.9%, -3,200) and Lake-Kenosha (-1.6%, -6,500). The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas included Education and Health Services (9 of 14).
Not seasonally adjusted data compares January 2020 with January 2019. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 4.0 percent in January 2020 and stood at 12.2 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.0 percent in January 2020 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 | January 2020* | January 2019** | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 3.4% | 5.2% | -1.8 |
| Carbondale-Marion | 3.9% |
5.6% | -1.7 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 3.4% | 5.2% | -1.8 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 3.6% | 4.7% | -1.1 |
| Danville | 4.9% | 6.6% | -1.7 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 4.7% | 5.4% | -0.7 |
| Decatur | 5.1% | 6.7% | -1.6 |
| Elgin | 4.7% | 6.3% | -1.6 |
| Kankakee | 5.4% | 7.1% | -1.7 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 4.4% | 5.6% | -1.2 |
| Peoria | 5.0% | 6.5% | -1.5 |
| Rockford | 8.0% | 6.8% | 1.2 |
| Springfield | 3.8% | 5.5% | -1.7 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) | 3.8% | 5.5% | -1.7 |
| Illinois Statewide | 4.0% | 5.3% | -1.3 |
| * Preliminary I ** Revised | | | |
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – January 2020
| Metropolitan Area | January | January | Over-the-Year |
| 2020* | 2019** | Change | |
| Bloomington MSA | 90,200 | 90,900 | -700 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 56,200 |
56,500 | -300 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 109,900 | 107,900 | 2,000 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,750,300 | 3,713,900 | 36,400 |
| Danville MSA | 26,800 | 27,000 | -200 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 183,300 | 183,900 | -600 |
| Decatur MSA | 49,300 | 50,000 | -700 |
| Elgin Metro Division | 256,100 | 256,600 | -500 |
| Kankakee MSA | 45,600 | 45,000 | 600 |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 405,200 | 411,700 | -6,500 |
| Peoria MSA | 165,000 | 168,200 | -3,200 |
| Rockford MSA | 144,200 | 150,500 | -6,300 |
| Springfield MSA | 106,900 | 108,000 | -1,100 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 235,700 | 235,200 | 500 |
| Illinois Statewide | 6,000,500 | 5,991,400 | 9,100 |