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Announcement – Thursday, April 22, 2021
Unemployment Rates Up, Jobs Down for Every Metro Area Compared to Last March
Contact: Rebecca Cisco | 217.524.1219
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The number of nonfarm jobs decreased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in March, 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 moves through pandemic recovery and the economy begins to heal itself, the major focus remains on assisting claimants and providing support to those still impacted,” said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. “IDES remains committed to administering benefits and providing job-matching services to individuals dislocated from their jobs as a result of the pandemic and eager to jump back into the workforce.”
The number of nonfarm jobs decreased in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas. The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (-7.5%, -280,400), the Kankakee MSA (-7.1%, -3,200), and the Decatur MSA (-6.3%, -3,100). Three metro areas recorded their lowest total nonfarm jobs for the month of March on record (dating back to 1990).
Over-the-year, the unemployment rate increased in all 14 metropolitan areas; the metro areas with the largest unemployment rate increases were the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (+3.8 points to 7.7%), Decatur MSA (+3.4 points to 8.6%), the Rockford MSA (+2.8 points to 8.1%). The not seasonally adjusted Illinois unemployment rate was 7.1 percent in March 2021. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in March 2021.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
| Metropolitan Area | March 2021* | March 2020** | Over-the-Year Change | |
| Bloomington | 5.0% | 3.2% | | 1.8 |
| Carbondale-Marion | 6.1% | 3.7% | |
2.4 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 4.9% | 3.0% | | 1.9 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 7.7% | 3.9% | | 3.8 |
| Danville | 6.9% | 4.3% | | 2.6 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 5.9% | 4.4% | | 1.5 |
| Decatur | 8.6% | 5.2% | | 3.4 |
| Elgin | 7.0% | 4.5% | | 2.5 |
| Kankakee | 7.5% | 4.9% | | 2.6 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 6.2% | 4.3% | | 1.9 |
| Peoria | 6.9% | 4.5% | | 2.4 |
| Rockford | 8.1% | 5.3% | | 2.8 |
| Springfield | 6.3% | 3.6% | | 2.7 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) | 5.6% | 3.4% | | 2.2 |
| Illinois Statewide | 7.1% | 4.0% | | 3.1 |
| * Preliminary I ** Revised | |
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) –March 2021
| Metropolitan Area | March | March | Over-the-Year | |
| 2021* | 2020** | Change | ||
| Bloomington MSA | 86,400 | 91,900 | -5,500 | |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 55,100 | 57,800 | -2,700 | |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 116,200 | 117,900 | -1,700 | |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,461,600 | 3,742,000 | -280,400 | |
| Danville MSA | 26,300 | 27,000 |
-700 | |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 174,700 | 182,900 | -8,200 | |
| Decatur MSA | 46,100 | 49,200 | -3,100 | |
| Elgin Metro Division | 237,600 | 253,400 | -15,800 | |
| Kankakee MSA | 41,900 | 45,100 | -3,200 | |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 391,800 | 410,800 | -19,000 | |
| Peoria MSA | 157,600 | 167,300 | -9,700 | |
| Rockford MSA | 137,500 | 145,600 | -8,100 | |
| Springfield MSA | 101,000 | 106,600 | -5,600 | |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 227,000 | 238,000 | -11,000 | |
| Illinois Statewide | 5,661,500 | 6,020,300 | -358,800 | |
| *Preliminary |**Revised |