10/25/2012
For Immediate Release | Contact: Greg Rivara, Phone: (312) 814-0095 (pdf version)
Last Time Rates Were Lower was Pre-Crash in 2008
CHICAGO - September local unemployment rates fell in every metro area compared to last year, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). Not seasonally adjusted data compares September 2012 to September 2011. The largest declines were in: Rockford ( 2.6 points to 11.0 percent), Chicago-Joliet-Naperville (-2.1 points to 8.0 percent) and Kankakee-Bradley (-1.3 points to 10.5 percent). The state not seasonally adjusted rate has dropped every month this year.
Payrolls increased in seven metros and fell in five. The largest increases: Rockford (+1.5 percent, +2,200), Kankakee-Bradley (+1.4 percent, +600) and Springfield (+1.0 percent, +1,100). Chicago-Joliet-Naperville also added jobs (+0.9 percent, +34,600 jobs). Sectors increasing in the most metros were Manufacturing (11 of 12), Professional and Business Services (eight of 12) and Leisure and Hospitality (eight of 12).
"This month's report highlights that we have made steady progress in lowering the unemployment rate, but more needs to be done," IDES Director Jay Rowell said. "Hiring managers need to see consistent, long-term tax policy and spending priorities by the federal government before we will see stronger hiring increases."
Not seasonally adjusted data compares the current month to the same month of the previous year. The September 2012 not seasonally adjusted Illinois unemployment rate was 8.1 percent and 12.3 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 7.6 percent in September and 10.6 percent in January 2010 at its peak. The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and looking for work and is not tied to collecting unemployment insurance benefits.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
| Metropolitan Area |
Sept. 2012* |
Sept. 2011 |
| Bloomington-Normal |
6.7% |
7.4% |
| Champaign-Urbana |
7.7% |
8.6% |
| Chicago-Joliet-Naperville |
8.0% |
10.1% |
| Danville |
10.0% |
10.6% |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Isl. |
6.5% |
7.3% |
| Decatur |
10.2% |
10.4% |
| Kankakee-Bradley |
10.5% |
11.8% |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI |
8.0% |
8.9% |
| Peoria |
7.5% |
8.7% |
| Rockford |
11.0% |
13.6% |
| Springfield |
7.3% |
7.9% |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) |
8.2% |
9.4% |
| * Data subject to revision. |
|
|
Total Non-farm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - September 2012
| Metropolitan Area |
September 2012* |
September 2011** |
Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington-Normal MSA |
90,900 |
90,600 |
300 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA |
104,800 |
104,900 |
-100 |
| Chicago-Joliet-Naperville Metro Div. |
3,702,400 |
3,667,800 |
34,600 |
| Danville MSA |
28,500 |
29,100 |
-600 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA |
180,600 |
181,400 |
-800 |
| Decatur MSA |
53,100 |
53,800 |
-700 |
| Kankakee-Bradley MSA |
43,700 |
43,100 |
600 |
| Lake County-Kenosha County Metro Div. |
383,100 |
380,400 |
2,700 |
| Peoria MSA |
184,500 |
183,200 |
1,300 |
| Rockford MSA |
147,600 |
145,400 |
2,200 |
| Springfield MSA |
112,200 |
111,100 |
1,100 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA |
232,900 |
235,300 |
-2,400 |
|
*Preliminary |
**Revised |
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