Unemployment Rates Up, Jobs Down in All Fourteen Metro Areas in October

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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 AreaOctober 2020*October 2019**Over-the-Year Change
Bloomington4.1%3.4%0.7
Carbondale-Marion4.6%3.7%0.9
Champaign-Urbana4.1%3.4%0.7
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights7.8%3.2%4.6
Danville5.6%4.7%0.9
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL4.6%3.8%0.8
Decatur6.7%4.9%1.8
Elgin5.3%3.7%1.6
Kankakee5.2%4.2%1.0
Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI5.1%3.5%1.6
Peoria5.5%4.2%1.3
Rockford6.4%5.0%1.4
Springfield5.0%3.5%1.5
St. Louis (IL-Section)4.7%3.7%1.0
Illinois Statewide6.5%3.5%3.0
* Preliminary  I  ** Revised

Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – October 2020

Metropolitan AreaOctoberOctoberOver-the-Year
 2020*2019**Change
Bloomington MSA88,20094,100-5,900
Carbondale-Marion MSA56,60058,800-2,200
Champaign-Urbana MSA115,300118,700-3,400
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division3,560,5003,836,200-275,700
Danville MSA26,40027,400-1,000
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA177,600189,000-11,400
Decatur MSA46,60050,600-4,000
Elgin Metro Division240,400264,600-24,200
Kankakee MSA44,90046,900-2,000
Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division394,200423,100-28,900
Peoria MSA154,800171,600-16,800
Rockford MSA138,600151,000-12,400
Springfield MSA103,900110,400-6,500
Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA233,900244,200-10,300
Illinois Statewide5,766,9006,178,900-412,000
*Preliminary | **Revised

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas

Labor Market AreaOct 2020Oct 2019Over the Year Change 
 
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division 
Cook County8.6 %3.4 %5.2 
DuPage County5.7 %2.6 %3.1 
Grundy County5.4 %3.3 %2.1 
Kendall County5.6 %2.8 %2.8 
McHenry County5.6 %2.8 %2.8 
Will County6.6 %3.2 %3.4 
Elgin, IL Metro Division    
DeKalb County5.0 %3.7 %1.3 
Kane County5.4 %3.7 %1.7 
Lake & Kenosha, IL-WI Metro Division  
Lake County (IL)5.0 %3.5 %1.5 
Kankakee, IL MSA    
Kankakee County5.2 %4.2 %1.0 
Cities    
Aurora City5.8 %3.4 %2.4 
Chicago City9.5 %3.6 %5.9 
Elgin City6.4 %3.8 %2.6 
Joliet City7.9 %3.7 %4.2 
Kankakee City7.8 %5.9 %1.9 
Naperville City5.3 %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***

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