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Announcement – Thursday, March 18, 2021
Unemployment Rates Up, Jobs Down in January for All State Metro Areas
Contact: Rebecca Cisco | 217.524.1219
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3/18/21 - The number of nonfarm jobs decreased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in January, 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.
“The Pritzker administration remains steadfast in providing support and services to individuals impacted by this pandemic more than a year later,” said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. “As IDES works to rollout the new extensions provided in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to ensure eligible claimants have access to benefits, they will continue to provide job-matching resources to individuals as the economy works to recover statewide.”
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 Kankakee MSA (-9.8%, -4,500), the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (-9.1%, -342,700) and the Elgin Metropolitan Division (-8.4%, -21,400). Three metro areas recorded their lowest total nonfarm jobs for the month of January 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 (+5.3 points to 9.1%), the Decatur MSA (+5.1 points to 9.9%) and the Springfield MSA (+3.9 points to 7.6%). The not seasonally adjusted Illinois unemployment rate was 8.5 percent in January 2021. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.8 percent in January 2021.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
| Metropolitan Area | January 2021* | January 2020** | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 6.3% | 3.2% | 3.1 |
| Carbondale-Marion | 6.9% | 3.7% | 3.2 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 6.3% | 3.1% | 3.2 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 9.1% | 3.8% | 5.3 |
| Danville | 8.0% | 4.6% | 3.4 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 6.8% | 4.6% | 2.2 |
| Decatur | 9.9% | 4.8% | 5.1 |
| Elgin | 8.2% | 4.5% | 3.7 |
| Kankakee | 8.7% | 5.1% | 3.6 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 7.1% | 4.1% | 3.0 |
| Peoria | 8.2% | 4.7% | 3.5 |
| Rockford | 11.1% | 7.6% | 3.5 |
| Springfield | 7.6% | 3.7% | 3.9 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) | 6.6% | 3.6% | 3.0 |
| Illinois Statewide | 8.5% | 4.0% | 4.5 |
| * Preliminary I ** Revised | |
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) –January 2021
| Metropolitan Area | January 2021* | January 2020** | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington MSA | 84,700 | 91,000 | -6,300 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 53,100 | 56,400 | -3,300 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 107,800 | 116,600 | -8,800 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,413,300 | 3,756,000 | -342,700 |
| Danville MSA | 25,900 | 26,700 | -800 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 171,400 | 182,900 | -11,500 |
| Decatur MSA | 45,800 | 49,500 | -3,700 |
| Elgin Metro Division | 232,900 | 254,300 | -21,400 |
| Kankakee MSA | 41,200 | 45,700 | -4,500 |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 387,200 | 412,300 | -25,100 |
| Peoria MSA | 155,600 | 167,500 | -11,900 |
| Rockford MSA | 135,900 | 147,300 | -11,400 |
| Springfield MSA | 98,600 | 107,000 | -8,400 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 224,200 | 236,500 | -12,300 |
| Illinois Statewide | 5,532,000 | 6,032,500 | -500,500 |
| *Preliminary | **Revised |