Unemployment Picture Improves Again in September; Six Month Positive Trend

CHICAGO - The unemployment rate fell again in September, countering the national trend.

The seasonally adjusted rate fell -0.2 points to 9.9 percent, according to data released today by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. September is the sixth consecutive month that the Illinois unemployment rate has fallen. The national unemployment rate for September was 9.6 percent, unchanged from August. So far this year, the Illinois economy has grown 0.9 percent; the national economy 0.5 percent.

"Illinois has lowered its unemployment rate for six consecutive months and has added jobs in eight of the past nine months. The steady, consistent trend shows Illinois is moving forward," IDES Director Maureen O'Donnell said. "Adding more than 50,000 jobs so far this year and lowering the unemployment rate as more people look for work moves us farther away from this stubborn national recession and on the road to job growth and better times."

Illinois added +8,600 jobs in September. So far this year, Illinois has added +50,700 private-sector jobs.  When compared to September 2009, Illinois added +6,900 jobs, the first year-over-year gain in 29 months (April 2008).Overall, the country lost jobs in September.

In Illinois, job leaders for September included Trade, Transportation & Utilities (+7,200) Educational and Health Services (+3,200) and Financial Activities (+2,900). Illinois again added manufacturing jobs (+400) in September. This is the seventh consecutive month Illinois has added manufacturing jobs and the best performance since April 1995. Illinois also added +700 construction jobs. Since the beginning of the year, job sectors leading Illinois' growth trend are Professional and Business Services (+19,300); Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+14,000); Manufacturing (+10,500); and Educational and Health Services (+8,700).

The seasonally adjusted Illinois unemployment rate is below 10 percent for the first time since April 2009. The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. A person who exhausts unemployment insurance benefits, or is ineligible, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.

The IDES supports economic stability by administering unemployment benefits, collecting business contributions to fund those benefits, connecting employers with qualified job seekers, and providing economic information to assist career planning and economic development.

Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Illinois Seasonally Adjusted Non-farm Jobs - by Major Industry

Notes:

• Illinois monthly labor force, unemployed and unemployment rates for years 1976-2009 have been revised as required by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In February of each year, monthly labor force data for all states are revised to reflect updated Census population controls, seasonal factors and state supplied non-farm jobs and unemployment insurance claims inputs. Comments and tables distributed for prior Illinois unemployment rate news releases should be discarded because any analysis, including records, previously cited might no longer be valid.
• Seasonally adjusted employment data for subsectors within industries are not available.  For not-seasonally adjusted jobs data with greater industry detail, go to http://lmi.ides.state.il.us/cesfiles/cescurrent.htm .
• "Other Services" includes a wide range of activities in three broad categories: Personal and laundry; repair and maintenance; and religious, grant making, civic and professional organizations.
• Monthly seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for Illinois and the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet Metropolitan Division are available at:  http://lmi.ides.state.il.us/laus/icmaur.htm .