National, state unemployment figures reach 25-year highs

[June 19, 2009]  CHICAGO -- The Illinois seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate for May reached 10.1 percent, an increase of 0.7 percent over April, according to figures released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Unemployment in Illinois and nationwide has reached 25-year highs.

Total non-farm payroll in Illinois declined by 17,400 jobs in May. Although the pace of job loss lessened compared with the previous six months, Illinois recorded its eighth consecutive month of job losses. The number of unemployed people reached 671,400, the highest since June 1983.

"This national recession has produced unemployment figures not seen in a generation. The next phase likely will include a slowdown in job loss coupled with further increases in the unemployment rate," said Maureen O’Donnell, IDES director. "As the economy continues to seek its own level, we continue to encourage claimants to certify for benefits and sign up for direct deposit at our Web site, ides.state.il.us."

The manufacturing sector lost 9,500 workers in May and has suffered the largest job loss of any sector in four of the last five months. Job loss leaders also include trade, transport and utilities as well as the construction sector. With summer approaching, job growth was reported in the leisure and hospitality sector.

(See tables below.)

Nationally, the May unemployment rate climbed to its highest level in more than 25 years to reach 9.4 percent, and the total number of unemployed workers reached 14.5 million. The nation’s total payroll fell for the 17th consecutive month in May (down 345,000), bringing total national job losses to 6.0 million since the onset of the recession in December 2007. The manufacturing and construction sectors continue to dominate the national employment decline during the recession, dropping by 1.8 million and 1.2 million, respectively. Illinois has lost 290,800 jobs since the onset of the recession.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security administers federally funded employment services and unemployment insurance through its nearly 60 offices, including the Illinois workNet Centers. IDES 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

	May 2009	April 2009	May 2008
Illinois	10.1%	9.4%*	6.4%*
U.S.	9.4%	8.9%	5.5%
*  Revised

Illinois Seasonally Adjusted Non-Farm Jobs – by Major Industry

Industry Title	May* 2009	April** 2009	May** 2008	Over the Month Change	Over the Year Change
Total Non-Farm	5,700,400	5,717,800	5,973,900	-17,400	-273,500
Mining	10,200	10,200	10,000	0	200
Construction	225,700	228,100	261,400	-2,400	-35,700
Manufacturing	584,000	593,500	663,200	-9,500	-79,200
Trade, Transportation, & Utilities	1,160,500	1,165,800	1,209,700	-5,300	-49,200
Information	108,400	109,500	115,700	-1,100	-7,300
Financial Activities	375,400	377,100	394,700	-1,700	-19,300
Professional and Business Services	795,600	796,800	868,300	-1,200	-72,700
Educational and Health Services	802,800	802,400	796,900	400	5,900
Leisure and Hospitality	520,400	513,500	534,100	6,900	-13,700
Other Services	259,000	259,600	264,100	-600	-5,100
Government	858,400	861,300	855,800	-2,900	2,600
	*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]