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Jobs Up in All 14 Metro Areas in November

Announcement – Thursday, December 22, 2022

ContactRebecca Cisco | 217.524.1219
PDF Version

Jobs increased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in November 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 in five metropolitan areas, decreased in four and was unchanged in five.

“Significant job growth has remained consistent throughout all corners of the state for nearly two years,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar.  “As job expansion continues and more people enter the labor force to capitalize on newly created job opportunities, IDES stands ready to provide resources that will help match employers and jobseekers.”  

The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (+6.4%, +11,400), the Rockford MSA (+3.9%, +5,600), and the Chicago Metropolitan Division (+3.6%, +134,200). Industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included: Manufacturing (fourteen areas); Mining and Construction, Leisure and Hospitality and Other Services (thirteen areas each); Education and Health Services (twelve areas); Wholesale Trade (ten areas); Government (nine areas); Retail Trade and Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (eight areas each).

The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate increases were the Kankakee MSA (+0.3 point to 5.4%), the Bloomington MSA (+0.2 point to 3.4%), the Champaign-Urbana MSA (+0.2 point to 3.6%) and the Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI Metro Division (+0.2 point to 3.8%). The largest unemployment rate decreases were in the Rockford MSA (-0.7 point to 5.8%), the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (-0.3 point to 3.7%) and the Decatur MSA (-0.3 point to 5.7%). The Chicago Metro Division unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.5%. The unemployment rate increased over-the-year in 83 counties, decreased in 14, and was unchanged in 5.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates - see PDF -

Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – November 2022 - see PDF-