State unemployment continues to rise

April unemployed at 9.4 percent

[May 22, 2009]  CHICAGO -- The Illinois seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate for April is 9.4 percent, an increase of 0.4 percent over March's revised rate, according to figures released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

Total non-farm payroll declined by 23,100 jobs in April. Compared with one year ago, employers reduced payroll by 255,400. In April, the number of unemployed people in the state increased 24,500 to reach 619,500, the highest level since August 1983. The three-month moving average unemployment rate is 9.0 percent, up 0.5 percent from the prior month and at its highest since December 1985.

"In these uncertain economic times, it is important for Illinois workers to identify steps they can take to better prepare themselves for the future," said Maureen O'Donnell, IDES director. "Skills assessment, job counseling, resume review and other services offered through IDES and its partners can assist workers in identifying and preparing for opportunities in the future."

Nationally, total non-farm payroll employment fell in April for the 16th consecutive month (down 539,000), bringing total national job losses to 5.7 million since the onset of the national recession in December 2007. The nation's unemployment rate climbed to 8.9 percent in April, and the total number of unemployed reached 13.7 million.

In Illinois, the manufacturing sector lost 8,900 jobs in April. The manufacturing sector has lost 77,400 jobs since the recession began in December 2007. The professional and business services sector lost 4,700 jobs in April and 78,400 jobs since the recession began. Employment fell in the trade and transportation industry by 5,400 in April and 50,400 since December 2007. The construction sector lost 4,800 jobs in April and 39,600 since the recession began.

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.

(See tables below with seasonally adjusted unemployment rates.)

[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

	April 2009	March 2009	April 2008
Illinois	9.4%	9.0%*	6.2%*
U.S.	8.9%	8.5%	5.0%
* Revised

Illinois Seasonally Adjusted Non-Farm Jobs – by Major Industry

Industry Title	April* 2009	March** 2009	April** 2008	Over the Month Change	Over the Year Change
Total Non-Farm	5,719,800	5,742,900	5,975,200	-23,100	-255,400
Mining	10,200	10,100	9,900	100	300
Construction	228,100	232,900	261,500	-4,800	-33,400
Manufacturing	593,400	602,300	664,600	-8,900	-71,200
Trade, Transportation, & Utilities	1,165,700	1,171,100	1,211,400	-5,400	-45,700
Information	109,500	111,300	115,700	-1,800	-6,200
Financial Activities	377,400	381,200	395,300	-3,800	-17,900
Professional and Business Services	796,900	801,600	868,600	-4,700	-71,700
Educational and Health Services	802,600	802,800	795,100	-200	7,500
Leisure and Hospitality	513,500	514,400	535,200	-900	-21,700
Other Services	259,900	261,600	263,500	-1,700	-3,600
Government	862,600	853,600	854,400	9,000	8,200
	*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]