Springfield, IL-(Mattoon Radio)- The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in thirteen Illinois metropolitan areas and increased in one in March 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 metro areas with the exception of one.
“Illinois’ economy continues on a positive trajectory,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “We stand ready to support job seekers and employers with innovative resources to connect across the state.”
The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Bloomington MSA (+6.6%, +5,800), the Chicago Metropolitan Division (+5.1%, +177,600), and the Elgin Metro (+5.0%, +11,900). Total nonfarm jobs were down slightly in Kankakee MSA (-0.5%, -200). Industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included: Leisure & Hospitality (fourteen areas); Government (thirteen areas); Wholesale Trade (twelve areas); Manufacturing, Professional & Business Services, and Other Services (ten areas each); Mining & Construction, and Education & Health Services (eight areas each).
The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were the Chicago Metropolitan Division (-2.3 points to 4.5%), the Decatur MSA (-2.1 points to 6.8%) and the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (-2.0 points to 4.3%). The unemployment rate increased in the Rockford MSA +0.2 point to 8.5%. The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in 101 counties and increased in one.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
| Metropolitan Area | March 2022* | March 2021** | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 3.7% | 5.2% | -1.5 |
| Carbondale-Marion | 4.5% | 6.3% | -1.8 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 3.8% | 5.3% | -1.5 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 4.5% | 6.8% | -2.3 |
| Danville | 5.6% | 7.3% | -1.7 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 4.3% | 6.3% | -2.0 |
| Decatur | 6.8% | 8.9% | -2.1 |
| Elgin | 5.4% | 7.3% | -1.9 |
| Kankakee | 6.0% | 7.7% | -1.7 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 4.8% | 6.3% | -1.5 |
| Peoria | 5.3% | 7.0% | -1.7 |
| Rockford | 8.5% | 8.3% | 0.2 |
| Springfield | 4.5% | 6.4% | -1.9 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) | 4.1% | 5.8% | -1.7 |
| Illinois Statewide | 4.7% | 6.7% | -2.0 |
| * Preliminary I ** Revised |
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – March 2022
| Metropolitan Area | March | March | Over-the-Year |
| 2022* | 2021** | Change | |
| Bloomington MSA | 93,100 | 87,300 | 5,800 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 57,400 | 55,600 | 1,800 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 116,400 | 113,600 | 2,800 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,685,200 | 3,507,600 | 177,600 |
| Danville MSA | 25,900 | 25,600 | 300 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 179,500 | 174,700 | 4,800 |
| Decatur MSA | 47,800 | 46,600 | 1,200 |
| Elgin Metro Division | 249,700 | 237,800 | 11,900 |
| Kankakee MSA | 42,400 | 42,600 | -200 |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 410,300 | 398,400 | 11,900 |
| Peoria MSA | 163,800 | 160,000 | 3,800 |
| Rockford MSA | 142,300 | 138,000 | 4,300 |
| Springfield MSA | 107,100 | 103,000 | 4,100 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 234,600 | 233,100 | 1,500 |
| Illinois Statewide | 5,931,100 | 5,689,900 | 241,200 |
| * Preliminary | **Revised |
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
| Labor Market Area | Mar 2022 | Mar 2021 | Over the Year Change | ||
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | |||||
| Champaign County | 3.8 % | 5.3 % | -1.5 | ||
| Ford County | 4.1 % | 5.1 % | -1.0 | ||
| Piatt County | 3.5 % | 4.6 % | -1.1 | ||
| Danville MSA | |||||
| Vermilion County | 5.6 % | 7.3 % | -1.7 | ||
| Cities | |||||
| Champaign City | 3.5 % | 5.2 % | -1.7 | ||
| Urbana City | 3.4 % | 4.7 % | -1.3 | ||
| Danville City | 5.1 % | 8.2 % | -3.1 | ||
| Counties | |||||
| Clark County | 4.8 % | 6.5 % | -1.7 | ||
| Coles County | 4.3 % | 5.6 % | -1.3 | ||
| Cook County | 4.9 % | 7.5 % | -2.6 | ||
| De Witt County | 4.3 % | 5.7 % | -1.4 | ||
| Douglas County | 3.2 % | 4.0 % | -0.8 | ||
| Edgar County | 3.6 % | 4.7 % | -1.1 | ||
| Iroquois County | 4.9 % | 5.8 % | -0.9 | ||
| McLean County | 3.7 % | 5.1 % | -1.4 | ||
| Macon County | 6.8 % | 8.9 % | -2.1 | ||
| Moultrie County | 3.1 % | 4.0 % | -0.9 | ||
| Sangamon County | 4.6 % | 6.5 % | -1.9 | ||
| Shelby County | 4.0 % | 5.0 % | -1.0 | ||
| Other Areas | |||||
| LWIA 17 | 3.9 % | 5.2 % | -1.3 | ||
| LWIA 18 | 5.6 % | 7.3 % | -1.7 | ||
| East Central EDR | 4.2 % | 5.6 % | -1.4 | ||
East Central Illinois Highlights
Champaign-Urbana MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 3.8 percent in March 2022 from 5.3 percent in March 2021. The last time the March rate was equal to or lower was in 2020 when it was 3.4 percent.
Nonfarm employment increased by +2,800 compared to last March.
Leisure-Hospitality (+1,300), Professional-Business Services (+600), Government (+400), Educational-Health Services (+300), Manufacturing (+200), and Wholesale Trade (+100) had payroll gains over the year. The Information (-100) sector had employment declines from a year ago.
Danville MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.6 percent in March 2022 from 7.3 percent in March 2021. The last time the March rate was equal to or lower was in 2020 when it was 4.9 percent.
Nonfarm employment increased by +300 compared to last March.
Leisure-Hospitality (+300), Government (+200), and Wholesale Trade (+100) had payroll gains over the year. The Manufacturing (-100), Construction (-100), and Other Services (-100) sectors recorded employment declines 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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