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Announcement – Thursday, January 28, 2021
Unemployment Rates Up, Jobs Down in All Metro Areas Across the State of Illinois
Contact: Rebecca Cisco | 217.524.1219
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1/28/2021 - The number of nonfarm jobs decreased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in December, 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 Illinois works to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic with the ongoing vaccine rollout, IDES remains committed to supporting displaced workers and families by offering support and services to those who need it,” said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. “The Pritzker administration and IDES continue to work with the U.S. Department of Labor to implement the new federal unemployment program changes as seamlessly as possible to ensure claimants have access to benefits for which they are eligible to receive.”
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 Peoria MSA (-9.6%, -16,300), the Elgin Metropolitan Division (-9.2%, -24,100) and the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (-7.4%, -284,800). Three metro areas recorded their lowest total nonfarm jobs for the month of December 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 (+5.9 points to 8.7%), the Decatur MSA (+3.0 points to 8.2%) and the Springfield MSA (+2.5 points to 6.3%). The not seasonally adjusted Illinois unemployment rate was 7.5 percent in December 2020. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in December 2020.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
| Metropolitan Area | December 2020* | December 2019** | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 5.2% | 3.3% | 1.9 |
| Carbondale-Marion | 5.4% | 3.7% | 1.7 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 5.0% | 3.2% | 1.8 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 8.7% | 2.8% | 5.9 |
| Danville | 6.4% | 5.2% | 1.2 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 5.1% | 4.4% | 0.7 |
| Decatur | 8.2% | 5.2% | 3.0 |
| Elgin | 6.5% | 4.4% | 2.1 |
| Kankakee | 6.4% | 5.4% | 1.0 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 6.2% | 4.1% | 2.1 |
| Peoria | 6.8% | 4.7% | 2.1 |
| Rockford | 7.3% | 5.8% | 1.5 |
| Springfield | 6.3% | 3.8% | 2.5 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) | 5.4% | 3.7% | 1.7 |
| Illinois Statewide | 7.5% | 3.5% | 4.0 |
| * Preliminary I **Revised | | | |
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) –December 2020
| Metropolitan Area | December | December | Over-the-Year |
| 2020* | 2019** | Change | |
| Bloomington MSA | 87,500 | 93,100 | -5,600 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 56,000 | 58,600 | -2,600 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 114,300 | 119,200 | -4,900 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,544,200 | 3,829,000 |
-284,800 |
| Danville MSA | 26,500 | 27,500 | -1,000 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 177,700 | 187,200 | -9,500 |
| Decatur MSA | 46,800 | 50,400 | -3,600 |
| Elgin Metro Division | 238,400 | 262,500 | -24,100 |
| Kankakee MSA | 44,200 | 46,800 | -2,600 |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 389,300 | 418,000 | -28,700 |
| Peoria MSA | 152,800 | 169,100 | -16,300 |
| Rockford MSA | 138,300 | 148,800 | -10,500 |
| Springfield MSA | 103,400 | 109,200 | -5,800 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 234,300 | 244,000 | -9,700 |
| Illinois Statewide | 5,731,000 | 6,150,100 | -419,100 |
| *Preliminary | **Revised |