September Roundup: Illinois unemployment rates by cities, counties and metro areas

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For the sixth consecutive month, Illinois unemployment rates fell in each metropolitan statistical area, as well as in all 102 counties for the fourth month in a row, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security and Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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. September 2014 to September 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.

With less than two weeks left until the Nov. 4 election, the metro and local jobless figures, on top of the 0.1 percentage point drop in the statewide unemployment rate to 6.6 percent, is welcome news to Gov. Pat Quinn who has consistently said Illinois is making a comeback.

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*Preliminary figures

Employers added jobs in eight of the 12 metro areas; industries that gained the most payroll positions include leisure and hospitality, mining and construction, and wholesale trade.

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

1. Champaign-Urbana: +2.2 percent / 2,400
2. Springfield: +1.9 percent / 2,100
3. Danville: +1.4 percent / 400
4. Kankakee-Bradley: +1.4 percent / 600
5. Chicago-Joliet-Naperville: +1.1 percent / +40,100

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

1. Bloomington-Normal: -0.8 percent / 700
2. Peoria: -0.6 percent / -1,100
3. Quad Cities: -0.5 percent / -900

Illinois counties with the highest and lowest unemployment rates:

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Highest unemployment rates (Sept-14, Aug-14, Sept-13):

1. Hardin County – 8.9 / 10.7 / 11.6 percent
2. Franklin County – 8.9 / 10.5 / 12.6 percent
3. Clay County – 8.6 / 9.1 / 10.3 percent
4. Alexander County – 8.5 / 9.7 / 11.2 percent
5. Montgomery County – 8.4 / 9.4 / 11.0 percent
6. Winnebago County – 8.4 / 9.6 / 11.5 percent
7. Pulaski County – 8.3 / 10.0 / 10.6 percent
8. Marion County – 8.2 / 9.5 / 11.0 percent
9. Vermilion County – 8.2 / 9.7 / 12.0 percent
10. Pope County – 8.1 / 10.2 / 10.2 percent

Lowest unemployment rates (Sept-14, Aug-14, Sept-13):

1. Brown County – 2.9 / 3.5 / 4.2 percent
2. Adams County – 4.7 / 5.4 / 6.2 percent
3. Washington County – 4.7 / 5.4 / 6.2 percent
4. Monroe County – 4.8 / 5.5 / 6.1 percent
5. Dupage County – 4.9 / 5.0 / 7.0 percent
6. McHenry County – 4.9 / 5.0 / 7.1 percent
7. Moultrie County – 4.9 / 5.7 / 6.9 percent
8. Kendall County – 5.0 / 5.1 / 7.4 percent
9. Schuyler County – 5.0 / 5.8 / 6.4 percent
10. DeKalb County – 5.1 / 5.4 / 7.3 percent
11. Pike County – 5.1 / 5.7 / 6.7 percent

(Click to enlarge)

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Illinois cities with the highest and lowest unemployment rates:

Highest unemployment rates (Sept-14, Aug-14, Sept-13):

1. East St. Louis – 12.4 / 14.2 / 15.8 percent
2. Harvey – 10.8 / 11.6 / 15.1 percent
3. Kankakee – 10.1 / 11.6 / 14.4 percent
4. Dolton – 10.1 / 10.2 / 13.7 percent
5. Maywood – 9.8 / 10.0 / 14.7 percent
6. Rockford – 9.8 / 11.3 / 13.3 percent
7. Danville – 9.5 / 11.8 / 14.8 percent
8. Calumet – 9.4 / 9.8 / 12.3 percent
9. Decatur – 9.0 / 10.7  / 13.8 percent
10. North Chicago – 9.0 / 10.3 / 11.8 percent

Lowest unemployment rates (Sept-14, Aug-14, Sept-13):

1. Elmhurst – 4.3 / 4.5 / 6.6 percent
2. Glenview – 4.3 / 4.4 / 6.1 percent
3. Northbrook - 4.4 / 4.5  / 6.2 percent
4. Palatine – 4.4 / 4.4 / 6.2 percent
5. Arlington Heights – 4.5 / 4.5 / 6.2 percent
6. Downers Grove – 4.5 / 4.6 / 6.4 percent
7. Melrose – 4.5 / 4.9 / 6.7 percent
8. Wilmette – 4.5 / 4.5 / 5.8 percent
9. Wheeling – 4.5 / 4.4 / 6.4 percent
10. Schaumburg – 4.6 / 4.8 / 6.8 percent
11. Mount Prospect – 4.6 / 4.7 / 6.1 percent
12. Oak Park – 4.7 / 4.7 / 6.6 percent
13. St. Charles – 4.7 / 4.7 / 6.3 percent
14. Wheaton – 4.8 / 4.9 / 6.6 percent
15. Glen Ellyn – 4.8 / 4.8 / 6.2 percent
16. Elk Grove – 4.8 / 4.9 / 7.1 percent
17. Oswego – 4.8 / 4.9 / 7.6 percent
18. Vernon Hills – 4.9 / 5.6 / 6.7 percent
19. Park Ridge – 4.9 / 5.0 / 6.7 percent
20. Bartlett – 4.9 / 4.9 / 6.9 percent

NEXT ARTICLE: Rauner edges back out ahead of Quinn in new Chicago Tribune poll

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