Each metro area in Illinois saw its unemployment rate drop for the fifth straight month, as did jobless numbers in all 102 counties, according to preliminary figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
The data is not seasonally adjusted, which means the unemployment rate of the current month is compared to the same month of last year — i.e. August 2014 to August 2013, which removes any seasonal or regular patterns that otherwise affect the unemployment rate. Additionally, people who have dropped out of the workforce are not reflected in these statistics.
On Sept. 18, IDES announced the statewide unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage points to 6.7 percent in August. The national jobless number stands at 6.1 percent.
“This is encouraging news – more people working than one year ago and fewer people describing themselves as unemployed,” IDES Director Jay Rowell said. “We now will look to see how the falling unemployment rate trend unfolds as employers continue to add permanent jobs and we begin to experience seasonal hiring.”
| Metro Area | Aug-14* | Aug-13 | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington-Normal | 87,800 | 89,400 | -1,600 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 101,000 | 99,700 | 1,300 |
| Chicago-Joliet-Naperville | 3,831,000 | 3,797,400 | 33,600 |
| Danville | 28,900 | 28,600 | 300 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | 184,600 | 184,500 | 100 |
| Decatur | 51,400 | 51,400 | 0 |
| Kankakee-Bradley | 43,500 | 43,800 | -300 |
| Lake County-Kenosha County | 406,100 | 402,000 | 4,100 |
| Peoria | 176,700 | 180,200 | -3,500 |
| Rockford | 148,300 | 147,900 | 400 |
| Springfield | 114,900 | 113,900 | 1,000 |
| IL Section of St. Louis | 227,400 | 228,400 | -1,000 |
*Preliminary numbers
Seven of Illinois’ 12 metropolitan statistical areas saw job growth.
Top MSAs with the largest over-the-year jobs gains:
- Champaign-Urbana: +1.3 percent / 1,300
- Danville: +1.0 percent / 300
- Lake-Kenosha: +1.0 percent / 4,100
- Chicago-Joliet-Naperville: +0.9 percent / +33,600
- Springfield: +0.9 percent / +1,000
Top MSAs with the largest over-the-year job losses:
- Peoria: -1.9 percent / -3,500
- Bloomington-Normal: -1.8 percent / -1,600
- Kankakee-Bradley: -0.7 percent / -300
- Decatur: -0.6 percent / -300
Illinois counties with the highest and lowest unemployment rates:
Highest unemployment rates (Aug-14, July-14, Aug-13):
- Hardin County – 10.7 / 11.4 / 12.7 percent
- Franklin County – 10.5 / 10.1 / 13.1 percent
- Pope County – 10.2 / 10.1 / 10.7 percent
- Pulaski County – 10.0 / 10.2 / 11.9 percent
- Alexander County – 9.7 / 10.7 / 6.6 percent
- Vermilion County – 9.7 / 9.6 / 12.2 percent
- Winnebago County – 9.6 / 9.5 / 11.6 percent
- Marion County – 9.5 / 9.3 / 11.6 percent
- Macon County – 9.4 / 9.5 / 12.5 percent
- Montgomery County – 9.4 / 9.3 / 11.3 percent
Lowest unemployment rates (Aug-14, July-14, Aug-13):
- Brown County – 3.5 / 3.6 / 4.7 percent
- DuPage County – 5.0 / 5.5 / 7.5 percent
- McHenry County – 5.0 / 5.7 / 7.6 percent
- Kendall County – 5.1 / 5.9 / 7.8 percent
- Adams County – 5.4 / 5.2 / 6.6 percent
- DeKalb County – 5.4 / 6.1 / 8.0 percent
- Washington County – 5.4 / 5.5 / 6.6 percent
- Monroe County – 5.5 / 5.2 / 6.7 percent
- Kane County – 5.5 / 6.2 / 8.1 percent
- Jo Daviess County – 5.7 / 5.6 / 6.5 percent
- Moultrie County – 5.7 / 5.8 / 7.1 percent
- Pike County – 5.7 / 5.8 / 7.0 percent
- Woodford County – 5.9 / 5.7 / 7.8 percent
(Click to enlarge)
Illinois cities with the highest and lowest unemployment rates:
Highest unemployment rates (Aug-14, July-14, Aug-13):
- East St. Louis – 14.1 / 14.2 / 17.1 percent
- Danville – 11.8 / 11.4 / 15.0 percent
- Harvey – 11.6 / 12.3 / 16.1 percent
- Kankakee – 11.6 / 11.2 / 14.5 percent
- Rockford – 11.3 / 11.0 / 13.4 percent
- Decatur – 10.7 / 10.8 / 14.3 percent
- North Chicago – 10.3 / 10.0 / 12.0 percent
- Dolton – 10.2 / 10.4 / 14.5 percent
- Maywood – 10.0 / 10.2 / 15.7 percent
- Alton – 10.0 / 9.6 / 11.6 percent
- Zion – 10.0 / 10.0 / 12.1 percent
Lowest unemployment rates (Aug-14, July-14, Aug-13):
- Glenview – 4.4 / 4.7 / 6.6 percent
- Palatine – 4.4 / 4.9 / 6.7 percent
- Wheeling - 4.4 / 5.1 / 6.9 percent
- Elmhurst – 4.5 / 5.1 / 7.2 percent
- Arlington Heights – 4.5 / 5.2 / 6.6 percent
- Northbrook – 4.5 / 5.0 / 6.6 percent
- Wilmette – 4.5 / 5.0 / 6.1 percent
- Downers Grove – 4.6 / 5.1 / 7.0 percent
- Mount Prospect – 4.7 / 5.0 / 6.7 percent
- Oak Park – 4.7 / 5.2 / 7.1 percent
- St. Charles – 4.7 / 5.3 / 6.9 percent
- Schaumburg – 4.8 / 5.3 / 7.4 percent
- Glen Ellyn – 4.8 / 5.1 / 6.9 percent
- Hoffman Estates – 4.8 / 5.2 / 7.4 percent
- Melrose – 4.9 / 5.7 / 7.2 percent
- Bartlett – 4.9 / 5.5 / 7.3 percent
- Elk Grove Village – 4.9 / 5.3 / 7.6 percent
- Wheaton – 4.9 / 5.5 / 7.1 percent
- Oswego – 4.9 / 6.2 / 7.9 percent
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Kevin Hoffman is a Reboot Illinois staff writer who graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in journalism, political science and international studies. He believes keeping citizens informed and politicians in check is the best way to improve Illinois and bring about common sense reform. Follow us on Facebook.