June jobless rate inches higher to 10.3 percent

0.2 percent increase tempered by slowing job loss

[July 17, 2009]  CHICAGO -- The Illinois seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate for June is 10.3 percent, an increase of 0.2 percent over May, according to figures released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

"Although the June unemployment figure has again increased, this number represents a slower pace of job loss for the third consecutive month," IDES Director Maureen O'Donnell said. "The first part of an economic recovery is actually a slower pace of job loss. Positive news is on the horizon, but it's too soon to tell when we will begin to see job growth."

Total non-farm payroll in Illinois declined by 13,900 jobs in June. While Illinois has lost jobs for nine consecutive months, the rate of that decline has slowed for three consecutive months. The number of unemployed people reached 683,300, the highest since November 1983.

The construction sector lost 5,400 jobs in June, its largest monthly job loss this year. Employment in the manufacturing sector declined 2,800. Although that represents the 17th consecutive month the sector has shed jobs, it is the smallest decline in the last eight months. The professional and business services sector reported its strongest gain in the last 24 months, adding 2,400 workers in June.

Nationally, the June unemployment rate increased slightly to 9.5 percent, up 0.1 percent. That is its highest level in more than 25 years. The total number of unemployed workers reached 14.7 million. Total non-farm payroll fell for the 18th consecutive month in June, losing 467,000, bringing total national job losses to 6.5 million since the onset of the recession in December 2007.

The national employment decline continues to be dominated by the manufacturing, professional and business services, and construction sectors, dropping by 1.9 million, 1.5 million and 1.3 million jobs, respectively, since December 2007.

Illinois has lost 305,100 jobs since the onset of the recession: 89,800 in manufacturing, 76,900 in professional and business services, and 47,100 in construction.

(See tables below with employment data.)

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

[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

	June 2009	May 2009	June 2008
Illinois	10.3%	10.1%*	6.6%*
U.S.	9.5%	9.4%	5.6%
*  Revised

Illinois Seasonally Adjusted Non-Farm Jobs – by Major Industry

Industry Title	June* 2009	May** 2009	June** 2008	Over the Month Change	Over the Year Change
Total Non-Farm	5,686,100	5,700,000	5,958,700	-13,900	-272,600
Mining	10,200	10,300	9,800	-100	400
Construction	220,600	226,000	258,700	-5,400	-38,100
Manufacturing	581,000	583,800	661,300	-2,800	-80,300
Trade, Transportation, & Utilities	1,155,800	1,160,900	1,206,600	-5,100	-50,800
Information	107,900	108,200	115,300	-300	-7,400
Financial Activities	375,200	375,700	393,300	-500	-18,100
Professional and Business Services	798,400	796,000	864,700	2,400	-66,300
Educational and Health Services	805,400	803,900	798,700	1,500	6,700
Leisure and Hospitality	518,000	517,600	533,200	400	-15,200
Other Services	261,200	259,400	263,900	1,800	-2,700
Government	852,400	858,200	853,200	-5,800	-800
	*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 2004-2008 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.

[Tables copied from Illinois Department of Employment Security file]