Local Unemployment Continues to Drop Across the State

CHICAGO – Year-over-year unemployment rates for April dropped in every metropolitan area in Illinois for an unprecedented eighth consecutive month, according to preliminary data released today by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. That has not occurred since this data set was first built in 1976. The not seasonally adjusted data compares April 2011 to April 2010. The largest declines were in: Rockford (-3.8 points to 11.9 percent), Danville (-2.7 points to 9.6 percent), Decatur (-2.5 points to 9.7 percent), Peoria (-2.5 points to 8.0 percent), and Chicago-Joliet-Naperville (-2.0 points to 8.7 percent).

“But for flood-devastated Alexander County, over-the-year unemployment rates would have fallen in every county in the state for a record fifth straight month,” IDES Acting Director Theresa P. Larkin said. “As communities throughout Illinois continue to recover from the national recession, overall trends indicate that our economy is improving and moving in the right direction.” 

Over the year, total payroll jobs increased in six metropolitan areas, decreased in two and were unchanged in four. The largest over-the-year percentage increases in total non-farm jobs were in Peoria (+3.3 percent, +5,800), Kankakee-Bradley (+2.1 percent, +900), Rockford (+1.3 percent, +1,800), and the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville area (+1.0 percent, +37,400). Industry sectors leading over-the-year job growth were Educational and Health Services (10 metro areas) and Manufacturing (8 areas).

Not seasonally adjusted data compares the current month to the same month of the previous year. The April 2011 not seasonally adjusted state rate was 8.6 percent and 12.1 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the rate was 8.7 percent in April and 10.6 percent in January 2010 at its peak. The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and looking for work. A person ineligible for unemployment benefits will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they continue to look for work. Since January 2010, Illinois has added +100,300 new jobs.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Total Non-farm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – April 2011