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Announcement – Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Unemployment Rates Up, Jobs Down in All Fourteen Metro Areas in October
Contact: Rebecca Cisco | 217.524.1219
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11/25/20 – The number of nonfarm jobs decreased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in October, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). The unemployment rate increased over-the-year in all metro areas. The official, BLS approved sub-state unemployment rate and nonfarm jobs series begins in 1990. Data reported prior to 1990 are not directly comparable due to updates in methodology.
“As the state works to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 and protect residents from this deadly virus, IDES will continue to provide services to claimants, job-seekers, and employers as fast as possible,” said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. “We also need the federal government to take action. Every metro area and its claimants will be impacted by the expiration of the federal CARES Act unemployment programs in just a few short weeks and IDES and the Pritzker administration will continue to call on the federal government to provide claimant stability through the end of this pandemic.”
The number of nonfarm jobs decreased in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas. Total nonfarm jobs were down in Peoria (-9.8%, -16,800), Elgin (-9.1%, -24,200) and Rockford (-8.2%, -12,400). In Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, jobs were down 7.2% (-275,700). No industry sector saw job gains in a majority of metro areas.
Not seasonally adjusted data compares October 2020 with October 2019. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in October 2020. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.6 percent in October 2020. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
| Metropolitan Area | October 2020* | October 2019** | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 4.1% | 3.4% | 0.7 |
| Carbondale-Marion | 4.6% | 3.7% | 0.9 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 4.1% | 3.4% | 0.7 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 7.8% | 3.2% | 4.6 |
| Danville | 5.6% | 4.7% | 0.9 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 4.6% | 3.8% | 0.8 |
| Decatur | 6.7% | 4.9% | 1.8 |
| Elgin | 5.3% | 3.7% | 1.6 |
| Kankakee | 5.2% | 4.2% | 1.0 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 5.1% | 3.5% | 1.6 |
| Peoria | 5.5% | 4.2% | 1.3 |
| Rockford | 6.4% | 5.0% | 1.4 |
| Springfield | 5.0% | 3.5% | 1.5 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) | 4.7% | 3.7% | 1.0 |
| Illinois Statewide | 6.5% | 3.5% | 3.0 |
| * Preliminary I ** Revised | |
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – October 2020
| Metropolitan Area | October | October | Over-the-Year |
| 2020* | 2019** | Change | |
| Bloomington MSA | 88,200 | 94,100 | -5,900 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 56,600 | 58,800 | -2,200 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 115,300 | 118,700 | -3,400 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,560,500 | 3,836,200 | -275,700 |
| Danville MSA | 26,400 | 27,400 | -1,000 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 177,600 |
189,000 | -11,400 |
| Decatur MSA | 46,600 | 50,600 | -4,000 |
| Elgin Metro Division | 240,400 | 264,600 | -24,200 |
| Kankakee MSA | 44,900 | 46,900 | -2,000 |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 394,200 | 423,100 | -28,900 |
| Peoria MSA | 154,800 | 171,600 | -16,800 |
| Rockford MSA | 138,600 | 151,000 | -12,400 |
| Springfield MSA | 103,900 | 110,400 | -6,500 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 233,900 | 244,200 | -10,300 |
| Illinois Statewide | 5,766,900 | 6,178,900 | -412,000 |
| *Preliminary | **Revised |