ROUNDUP: ILLINOIS UNEMPLOYMENT RATE BY CITIES, COUNTIES AND METRO AREAS

JUN 27, 2014
Reboot Illinois

The Illinois unemployment rate fell in 99 out of the state’s 102 counties during the month of May, according to preliminary figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).

The data, which is not seasonally adjusted, compares May 2014 to May 2013, and marks the second consecutive month of declining rates for every metro area.

Listed below is the unemployment rate for each metropolitan statistical area (MSA) of Illinois, total non-farm jobs and over-the-year-change. (*Note: May 2014 numbers are preliminary; May 2013 are revised.)Metropolitan Unemployment Rates           May 2014*                       May 2013

• Bloomington-Normal                                 6.0% (88,400)                  6.4% (91,100)
• Champaign-Urbana                                  6.3% (109,800)                7.1% (108,800)
• Chicago-Joliet-Naperville                          7.2% (3,800,300)             9.2% (3,782,600)
• Danville                                                      9.4% (28,800)                  10.0% (29,100)
• Davenport-Moline-Rock Island                 6.1% (184,200)                6.5% (184,700)
• Decatur                                                       9.1% (51,500)                 10.4% (52,200)
• Kankakee-Bradley                                       8.8% (43,900)                10.1% (43,400)
• Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI                                  6.6% (405,100)                7.5% (397,300)
• Peoria                                                         7.2% (179,200)                8.2% (182,500)
• Rockford                                                     8.9% (149,200)               10.3% (148,100)
• Springfield                                                 6.0% (111,800)                6.9% (110,300)
• St. Louis (IL Section)                                   6.6% (232,600)                7.7% (233,300)

 Along with MSA data, here is a map from IDES with not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for each county.

On June 19th, BLS announced the preliminary statewide unemployment rate, which is seasonally adjusted, showing a four percentage point decline to 7.5 percent. However, metro and local data are measured on a not seasonally adjusted basis and compare the current month with the same month of the previous year, dropping the statewide unemployment rate to 7.2 percent.

Jobs were added in six of the 12 metro areas, the majority of which were in Leisure and Hospitality (nine of 12), Mining and Construction (eight of 12), Education and Health Services (eight of 12) and Professional and Business Services (seven of 12).

“Growing consumer confidence and its related discretionary spending is pushing this economy forward,” IDES Director Jay Rowell said. “We must not rest, however, until this improving economy touches every doorstep in our state.”

Top three MSAs with the largest over-the-year jobs gains:

1. Lake-Kenosha: 2.0 percent, 7,800
2. Springfield: 1.4 percent, 1,500
3. Kankakee-Bradley: 1.2 percent, 500

Top three MSAs with the largest over-the-year job losses:

1. Bloomington-Normal: -3.0 percent, -2,700
2. Peoria: -1.8 percent, -3,300
3. Decatur: -1.3 percent, -700

Illinois counties with the highest unemployment rates:

1. Alexander County – 9.9 percent
2. Hardin County – 9.8 percent
3. Franklin County – 9.6 percent
4. Pope County – 9.5 percent
5. Union County – 9.4 percent
6. Vermilion County – 9.4 percent
7. Perry County – 9.2 percent
8. Pulaski County – 9.2 percent
9. Macon County – 9.1 percent
10. Winnebago County – 9.1 percent
11. Marion County – 9.0 percent
12. Montgomery County – 9.0 percent
13. La Salle County – 8.9 percent
14. Kankakee County – 8.8 percent
15. Clay County – 8.7 percent

Top Illinois cities with the highest unemployment rate (May-14, April-14, May-13):

1. East St. Louis – 12.8 /11.9 / 13.4 percent
2. Harvey – 12.4 / 12.4 / 14.6 percent
3. Kankakee – 11.2 / 11.2 / 13.6 percent
4. Dolton – 10.7 / 10.6 / 13.7 percent
5. Decatur – 10.4 / 10.2 / 11.7 percent
6. Rockford – 10.4 / 10.2 / 11.8 percent
7. Danville – 10.3 / 9.2 / 12.0 percent
8. Maywood – 10.2 / 10.5 / 14.7 percent
9. Chicago Heights – 10.1 / 11.3 / 13.1 percent
10. Calumet – 10.1 / 10.1 / 12.0 percent

Top Illinois cities with the lowest unemployment rate (May-14, April-14, May-13):

1. Glenview – 4.9 / 4.6 / 6.6 percent
2. Glen Ellyn – 4.9 /5.1 / 6.7 percent
3. Highland Park - 5.1 /4.6 / 6.0 percent
4. Quincy – 5.1 / 4.8 / 6.3 percent
5. Northbrook – 5.2 / 5.0/ 7.0 percent
6. Elmhurst – 5.3 /5.2 / 7.3 percent
7. St. Charles – 5.3 /5.7 / 7.2 percent
8. Palatine – 5.3 / 5.8 / 7.1 percent
9. Downers Grove – 5.4 / 5.3 / 7.3 percent
10. Wheaton – 5.4 / 5.4 / 7.2 percent
11. Wilmette – 5.4 / 5.1 / 6.5 percent
12. Hoffman Estates – 5.4 / 5.5 / 7.5 percent

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