May Unemployment Rate Falls to 9.1 Percent

CHICAGO – The unemployment rate fell to 9.1 percent in May and Illinois businesses added 11,800 private sector jobs, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).

The seasonally adjusted data nets May’s job growth at 5,600 when subtracting temporary job declines as schools go on summer break. Illinois added 54,900 private sector positions compared to last year.

“The encouraging news of private sector job growth shows Illinois businesses are warming to the idea of adding new positions. Growth in construction is particularly encouraging following a cold and wet spring,” IDES Director Jay Rowell said. “This year also illustrates the volatile nature of the unemployment rate. Up in January and February, unchanged in March, and then down again in April and May. This trend likely will continue as national and global events push consumer confidence.”

Illinois has added +227,600 private sector jobs since January 2010 when job growth returned following nearly two years of consecutive monthly declines. Leading growth sectors are Professional and Business Services (+98,800); Education and Health Services (+58,500); and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+34,700). Government has lost the most jobs since January 2010, down -30,600.

In May 2013, the number of unemployed fell -11,600 (-1.9 percent) to 599,200. Total unemployed has fallen -153,000 (-20.3 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 times of economic growth and recession.
 

Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Illinois Seasonally Adjusted Non-farm Jobs – by Major Industry

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 .