Press Release - Thursday, May 16, 2013
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Unemployment Rate Declines to 9.3 Percent
CHICAGO – The April unemployment rate fell to 9.3 percent from 9.5 percent in March, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). There were -2,000 fewer jobs over the month yet +40,300 more jobs than one year ago. The data is seasonally adjusted.
“April data reflects the unevenness of this recovery,” IDES Director Jay Rowell said. “The up-and-down movement in the monthly figures masks the 216,000 jobs that have been added during this part of the economic cycle. This uneven path forward likely will continue until consumer and business confidence can be sustained at the national level.”
Illinois has added +216,000 private sector jobs since January 2010 when job growth returned following nearly two years of consecutive monthly declines. Since, the monthly volatility has been significant. When compared to the previous month, Illinois recorded job growth in 27 months and job loss in 13. The unemployment rate increased in seven months, fell in 13 and was unchanged in 10.
Leading growth sectors since January 2010 are Professional and Business Services (+91,600); Education and Health Services (+59,600); and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+37,600). Government has lost the most jobs since January 2010, down -24,700.
In April 2013, the number of unemployed individuals decreased -18,000 (-2.9 percent) to 611,000. Total unemployed has fallen -141,200 (-18.8 percent) since early 2010 when the state unemployment rate peaked at 11.3 percent for the months of January and February.
The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. A person who exhausts benefits, or is ineligible, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work. Historically, the national unemployment rate is lower than the state rate. The state rate has been lower than the national rate only six times since January 2000. This includes periods of economic expansion and contraction.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
|
|
April
2013 |
March
2013 |
April
2012 |
3-Month
Moving Avg. |
|
Illinois
|
9.3%
|
9.5%
|
8.8%*
|
9.4%
|
|
U.S.
|
7.5%
|
7.6%
|
8.1%*
|
7.6%
|
|
* Revised
|
||||
Illinois Seasonally Adjusted Non-farm Jobs – by Major Industry
|
Industry Title
|
April
2013* |
March
2013** |
April
2012** |
Over the Month Change
|
Over the Year
Change |
3-Month
Moving Avg. |
Change from
Previous 3-Month Mov. Avg. |
|
Total Nonfarm
|
5,775,500
|
5,777,500
|
5,735,200
|
-2,000
|
40,300
|
5,782,300
|
-1,100
|
|
Mining
|
10,300
|
10,300
|
10,400
|
0
|
-100
|
10,300
|
0
|
|
Construction
|
177,500
|
185,400
|
190,400
|
-7,900
|
-12,900
|
183,400
|
-2,400
|
|
Manufacturing
|
583,000
|
583,700
|
582,600
|
-700
|
400
|
583,500
|
400
|
|
Trade, Transportation, & Utilities
|
1,158,500
|
1,159,900
|
1,153,800
|
-1,400
|
4,700
|
1,161,800
|
-2,400
|
|
Information
|
99,700
|
99,500
|
100,400
|
200
|
-700
|
99,700
|
0
|
|
Financial Activities
|
371,400
|
371,200
|
365,000
|
200
|
6,400
|
371,300
|
200
|
|
Professional and Business Services
|
872,500
|
869,600
|
856,900
|
2,900
|
15,600
|
872,700
|
1,200
|
|
Educational and Health Services
|
880,600
|
879,600
|
860,000
|
1,000
|
20,600
|
878,900
|
1,800
|
|
Leisure and Hospitality
|
536,300
|
535,100
|
534,700
|
1,200
|
1,600
|
537,300
|
-900
|
|
Other Services
|
254,100
|
253,100
|
249,400
|
1,000
|
4,700
|
252,900
|
700
|
|
Government
|
831,600
|
830,100
|
831,600
|
1,500
|
0
|
830,700
|
500
|
|
|
* Preliminary ** Revised
|
|
|||||
Notes:
• Illinois monthly labor force, unemployed and unemployment rates for years 2008-2012 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 sum-of-states controls, Census population controls, seasonal factors, non-farm jobs and unemployment insurance claims inputs. Data were also smoothed to eliminate large monthly changes as a result of volatility in the monthly household (CPS) survey. Comments and tables distributed in prior Illinois unemployment rate news release materials 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://www.ides.illinois.gov/Custom/Library/Statistic/CES/I_NSA_CES_Illinois_MSAs_Jobs_2000_to_Current.XLS .
• “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://www.ides.illinois.gov/page.aspx?item=2509 .
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