National economic slowdown continues to weigh on Illinois labor market

[October 18, 2008]  CHICAGO -- The Illinois economy posted its fourth consecutive month of job loss in September (down 3,700) for the first time in more than five years, according to data released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security and the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. The seasonally adjusted September unemployment rate in Illinois was 6.9 percent, down 0.4 point from August. The three-month moving average, which more clearly depicts overall trends, remained at 7.1 percent, the highest level reported since November 1993.

"Illinois workers are feeling the negative effects of the national economic slowdown, and today's numbers show they could use a lift," said Maureen O'Donnell, director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security. "The Illinois Works Jobs Plan provides a starting point. This comprehensive effort to create jobs would help put people to work in some of our hardest-hit sectors, including construction, which has lost 10,000 jobs over the year."

The national unemployment rate remained at its five-year high of 6.1 percent during September. Employers cut jobs (down 159,000) for the ninth consecutive month, bringing total national job losses during 2008 to 760,000.

In Illinois, professional and business services (1,000 new jobs) and educational and health services (700 jobs) both reported modest job gains over the month. Construction pared payroll employment by 3,300 workers, the second-largest loss since February 2007. Over the year, this sector shed 10,000 workers, worst among all the industry sectors. The trade, transportation and utilities sector reported a drop of 3,500 workers in September, following a loss of 3,100 in August. This sector had not experienced two consecutive monthly losses in excess of 3,000 jobs since October 2001. The financial activities sector shed another 2,300 jobs over the month, bringing its loss since the beginning of the year to 8,900.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security administers federally funded employment services and unemployment insurance through its nearly 60 offices, including the Illinois workNet Centers, formerly known as the Illinois Employment and Training Centers. The department also receives federal grants to provide and analyze labor market statistics and information.

(See tables below.)

[Text from Illinois Department of Employment Security file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]

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Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

	September 2008	August 2008	September 2007
Illinois	7.3%	7.2%*	5.2%*
U.S.	6.1%	5.7%	4.7%
*  Revised

Illinois Seasonally Adjusted Non-Farm Jobs – by Major Industry

Industry Title	September* 2008	August** 2008	September** 2007	Over the Month Change	Over the Year Change
Total Non-Farm	5,970,700	5,974,400	5,985,600	-3,700	-14,900
Mining	9,700	9,900	9,800	-200	-100
Construction	258,700	262,000	268,700	-3,300	-10,000
Manufacturing	668,600	668,700	671,800	-100	-3,200
Trade, Transportation, & Utilities	1,212,900	1,216,400	1,215,200	-3,500	-2,300
Information	114,000	115,200	117,000	-1,200	-3,000
Financial Activities	396,000	398,300	402,500	-2,300	-6,500
Professional and Business Services	877,600	876,600	870,500	1,000	7,100
Educational and Health Services	791,500	790,800	781,800	700	9,700
Leisure and Hospitality	529,900	529,500	530,700	400	-800
Other Services	259,000	260,200	261,800	-1,200	-2,800
Government	852,800	846,800	855,800	6,000	-3,000
	*Preliminary      **Revised

Notes:

• Seasonally-adjusted employment data for subsectors within industries are not available.

• "Other Services" includes a wide range of activities in three broad categories: Personal and laundry; repair and maintenance; and religious, grant making, civic and professional organizations. For a list of all activities under Other Services and all other industry sectors, go to http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/naico602.htm.

• For not-seasonally-adjusted jobs data showing greater industry detail, go to http://lmi.ides.state.il.us/cesfiles/cescurrent.htm.

• Monthly seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for Illinois and the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet Metropolitan Division are available at: http://lmi.ides.state.il.us/laus/icmaur.htm.

• Illinois monthly labor force, unemployed and unemployment rates for years 2003-2007 have been revised as required by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In February of each year, monthly labor force data for all states are revised to reflect updated Census population controls, seasonal factors and state supplied non-farm jobs and UI claims inputs. The revised monthly data are also smoothed to eliminate large changes as a result of volatility in the monthly household (CPS) survey. Comments and tables distributed for prior monthly Illinois unemployment rate news releases should be discarded. Any records and other historical analysis previously cited for Illinois labor force, number of unemployed and unemployment rates may no longer be valid under the revised monthly time series.

• Per BLS, revised monthly data will be produced in the LAUS program for the first time since 2005. As a result, both statewide and sub-state labor force, employed, unemployed and unemployment rates for the previous data month will be subject to revision, beginning with the release of February 2008 estimates.

[Tables copied from Illinois Department of Employment Security file]