SPRINGFIELD – The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in February for the eleventh consecutive month according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). Jobs were up in all fourteen metro areas.
“We are encouraged by Illinois’ sustained growth across the economy,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “Job seekers are finding new opportunities across the state, and Illinois is ready to support them with resources that will continue strengthening Illinois’ workforce.”
The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Bloomington MSA (+6.9%, +6,000), the Elgin Metropolitan Division (+6.3%, +14,700), and the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (+5.4%, +186,800). Industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included: Leisure and Hospitality and Government (fourteen areas each); Mining and Construction (thirteen areas); Manufacturing (twelve areas); Wholesale Trade and Other Services (eleven areas each); Retail Trade, Professional and Business Services and Education and Health Services (nine areas each).
The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (-2.6 points to 4.9%), the Rockford MSA (-2.5 points to 7.9%) and the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (-2.2 points to 4.6%). The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in all 102 counties for the fourth straight month.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
Metropolitan Area
February 2022*
February 2021**
Over-the-Year Change
Bloomington
3.9%
5.6%
-1.7
Carbondale-Marion
4.7%
6.6%
-1.9
Champaign-Urbana
3.8%
5.7%
-1.9
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights
4.9%
7.5%
-2.6
Danville
6.0%
7.7%
-1.7
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL
4.6%
6.8%
-2.2
Decatur
7.1%
9.1%
-2.0
Elgin
5.6%
7.6%
-2.0
Kankakee
6.5%
8.1%
-1.6
Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI
4.9%
6.6%
-1.7
Peoria
5.6%
7.5%
-1.9
Rockford
7.9%
10.4%
-2.5
Springfield
4.8%
6.7%
-1.9
St. Louis (IL-Section)
4.4%
6.2%
-1.8
Illinois Statewide
5.0%
7.3%
-2.3
* Preliminary I ** Revised
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – February 2022
Metropolitan Area
February
February
Over-the-Year
2022*
2021**
Change
Bloomington MSA
92,400
86,400
6,000
Carbondale-Marion MSA
57,100
54,800
2,300
Champaign-Urbana MSA
116,000
112,300
3,700
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division
3,659,600
3,472,800
186,800
Danville MSA
25,700
25,200
500
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA
178,800
171,500
7,300
Decatur MSA
47,700
46,100
1,600
Elgin Metro Division
249,500
234,800
14,700
Kankakee MSA
41,900
41,800
100
Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division
406,400
396,400
10,000
Peoria MSA
162,800
158,400
4,400
Rockford MSA
141,700
135,800
5,900
Springfield MSA
106,700
101,300
5,400
Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA
231,800
228,900
2,900
Illinois Statewide
5,885,500
5,626,400
259,100
*Preliminary | **Revised
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
Labor Market Area
Feb 2022
Feb 2021
Over the Year Change
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division
Cook County
5.3 %
8.1 %
-2.8
DuPage County
3.2 %
5.4 %
-2.2 %
Grundy County
4.9 %
7.1 %
-2.2
Kendall County
3.6 %
5.9 %
-2.3
McHenry County
3.7 %
6.1 %
-2.4
Will County
4.6 %
7.1 %
-2.5
Elgin, IL Metro Division
DeKalb County
5.1 %
7.4 %
-2.3
Kane County
5.7 %
7.7 %
-2.0 %
Lake & Kenosha, IL-WI Metro Division
Lake County (IL)
5.2 %
6.8 %
-1.6
Kankakee, IL MSA
Kankakee County
6.5 %
8.1 %
-1.6
Cities
Aurora City
4.7 %
7.0 %
-2.3
Chicago City
5.4 %
8.6 %
-3.2
Elgin City
8.7 %
10.0 %
-1.3
Joliet City
6.2 %
9.1 %
-2.9
Kankakee City
9.7 %
12.2 %
-2.5
Naperville City
2.3 %
4.5 %
-2.2
* 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 decreased to 4.9 percent in February 2022 from 7.5 percent in February 2021. The last time the February rate was equal to or lower was in 2020 when it was 3.7 percent.
Total nonfarm employment increased +186,800 compared to February 2021. The Leisure-Hospitality (+72,300), Professional-Business Services (+29,800), Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+20,400), Government (+17,600), and Educational-Health Services (+11,300) sectors had the largest payroll gains over the year. No sectors had employment declines from a year ago.
Elgin, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.6 percent in February 2022 from 7.6 percent in February 2021. The last time the February rate was equal to or lower was in 2020 when it was 4.1 percent.
Total nonfarm employment increased +14,700 compared to February 2021. The Leisure-Hospitality (+4,000), Professional-Business Services (+3,300), Government (+1,700), Retail Trade (+1,600), Manufacturing (+1,300), and Educational-Health Services (+1,100) sectors had the largest payroll gains over the year. No sectors had employment declines from a year ago.
Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 4.9 percent in February 2022 from 6.6 percent in February 2021. The last time the February rate was equal to or lower was in 2020 when it was 3.9 percent.
Total nonfarm employment increased +10,000 compared to February 2021. The Professional-Business Services (-1,200) sector recorded employment declines compared to one year ago. Leisure-Hospitality (+4,900), Wholesale Trade (+1,500), Government (+1,400), Construction (+900), and Manufacturing (+800) sectors had the largest payroll gains over the year.
Kankakee, IL MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 6.5 percent in February 2022 from 8.1 percent in February 2021. The last time the February rate was equal to or lower was in 2020 when it was 4.7 percent.
Total nonfarm employment increased +100 compared to February 2021. The Professional-Business Services (-300), Educational-Health Services (-100), and Manufacturing (-100) sectors recorded employment declines compared to one year ago. The Leisure-Hospitality (+200), Construction (+100), Financial Activities (+100), Wholesale Trade (+100), and Government (+100) sectors had the largest payroll gains over the year.
Note: Monthly 2021 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2022, 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.
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