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 |
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
Labor Market Area | Oct 2020 | Oct 2019 | Over the Year Change | |
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division | ||||
Cook County | 8.6 % | 3.4 % | 5.2 | |
DuPage County | 5.7 % | 2.6 % | 3.1 | |
Grundy County | 5.4 % | 3.3 % | 2.1 | |
Kendall County | 5.6 % | 2.8 % | 2.8 | |
McHenry County | 5.6 % | 2.8 % | 2.8 | |
Will County | 6.6 % | 3.2 % | 3.4 | |
Elgin, IL Metro Division | ||||
DeKalb County | 5.0 % | 3.7 % | 1.3 | |
Kane County | 5.4 % | 3.7 % | 1.7 | |
Lake & Kenosha, IL-WI Metro Division | ||||
Lake County (IL) | 5.0 % | 3.5 % | 1.5 | |
Kankakee, IL MSA | ||||
Kankakee County | 5.2 % | 4.2 % | 1.0 | |
Cities | ||||
Aurora City | 5.8 % | 3.4 % | 2.4 | |
Chicago City | 9.5 % | 3.6 % | 5.9 | |
Elgin City | 6.4 % | 3.8 % | 2.6 | |
Joliet City | 7.9 % | 3.7 % | 4.2 | |
Kankakee City | 7.8 % | 5.9 % | 1.9 | |
Naperville City | 5.3 % | 2.7 % | 2.6 |
* Unemployment rates for cities with total population of 25,000 or more can be found at https://www2.illinois.gov/ides/lmi/Pages/Local_Area_Unemployment_Statistics.aspx
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 7.8 percent in October 2020 from 3.2 percent in October 2019. The last time the October rate was equal to or higher was in 2013 when it was 9.0 percent.
Total nonfarm employment decreased -275,700 compared to October 2019. The Leisure-Hospitality (-2,100), Professional-Business Services (-46,900), Government (-38,900), and Educational-Health Services (-28,300) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.
Elgin, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 5.3 percent in October 2020 from 3.7 percent in October 2019. The last time the October rate was equal to or higher was in 2015 when it was 5.4 percent.
Total nonfarm employment decreased -24,200 compared to October 2019. The Leisure-Hospitality (-7,300), Government (-3,700), Educational-Health Services (-3,200), Other Services (-2,900), and Manufacturing (-2,800) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago.
Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 5.1 percent in October 2020 from 3.5 percent in October 2019. The last time the October rate was equal to or higher was in 2014 when it was 5.3 percent.
Total nonfarm employment decreased -28,900 compared to October 2019. Leisure-Hospitality (-11,900), Professional-Business Services (-5,100), Government (-3,000), Educational-Health Services (-2,300), and Manufacturing (-2,000) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago. Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+500) and Construction (+100) had payroll gains over the year.
Kankakee, IL MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 5.2 percent in October 2020 from 4.2 percent in October 2019. The last time the October rate was equal to or higher was in 2016 when it was 6.0 percent.
Total nonfarm employment decreased -2,000 compared to October 2019. The Educational-Health Services (-600), Government (-500), Professional-Business Services (-400), Other Services (-200), and Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (-200) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago. Retail Trade (+200) had payroll gains over the year.
Note: Monthly 2019 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2020, as required by the U.S. BLS. Comments and tables distributed for prior metro area news releases should be discarded as any records or historical analysis previously cited may no longer be valid. The official monthly unemployment rate series for metro areas, counties and most cities begins in 1990. The official monthly nonfarm jobs series for metro areas begins in 1990 and for non-metropolitan counties it begins in 1999.
***Report Courtesy of the State of Illinois***