Friday, October 23, 2009
 
sponsored by Graue Inc.

National recession pushes unemployment rates higher across state

Send a link to a friend

[October 23, 2009]  CHICAGO -- Unemployment rates for September in all 12 Illinois metro areas were above previous-year levels for the 28th consecutive month, according to data released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Metro areas that reported the largest increases were Rockford, up 6.3 points to 15.2 percent; Peoria, up 5.5 points to 11.1 percent; and Decatur, up 5.1 points to 12.4 percent. The Chicago-Naperville-Joliet area unemployment rate rose 3.9 points to 10.1 percent.

Compared with September 2008, the total number of payroll jobs decreased in all 12 metropolitan areas. The largest over-the-year percentage decreases in jobs were reported in Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, down 4.9 percent, 188,200 jobs; Decatur, down 4.5 percent, 2,500 jobs; and Kankakee-Bradley, down 3.6 percent, 1,600 jobs.

Figures that are not seasonally adjusted compare the current month with same month last year and should not be compared with seasonally adjusted figures. The not-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Illinois in September was 10.2 percent. The national figure was 9.5 percent.

Exterminator

The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and looking for a job, regardless if they are eligible for unemployment insurance. People not collecting unemployment insurance will still be reflected in the unemployment rate if they continue to look for work.

"Just like past economic downturns, Illinois followed the nation into this recession, and Illinois will follow the nation out of this recession," said Maureen O' Donnell, Illinois Department of Employment Security director. "It is so important that workers use this time as an opportunity to access the training and career counseling available though our partners across the state."

Library

Central Illinois highlights

Bloomington-Normal Metropolitan Statistical Area: The unemployment rate increased from 5.2 percent in September 2008 to 7.4 percent in September 2009. The area experienced its highest September unemployment rate since 1982, when it was 8.2 percent. However, the rate still is the lowest of all metro areas in the state. Compared with September 2008, total non-farm payroll jobs declined by 1,600, with losses reported in government, 600; manufacturing, 300; and construction, 200. The only sector with an over-the-year gain was leisure and hospitality, up 100.

Peoria Metropolitan Statistical Area: The unemployment rate increased from 5.6 percent in September 2008 to 11.1 percent in September 2009. It is the highest September rate since 1983, when it was 14.1 percent. The non-farm payroll jobs total was 6,400 lower than the September 2008 level, with declines in almost all sectors. The largest job losses occurred in manufacturing, 4,100; professional and business services, 900; and construction, 400. Leisure and hospitality, up 100, was the only sector with an over-the-year employment increase.

Ottawa-Streator area: The unemployment rate increased from 7.0 percent in September 2008 to 12.1 percent in September 2009. From September 2008, there was a loss of 2,775 non-farm payroll jobs. The largest job declines were in manufacturing, 1,300; construction, 475; and professional and business services, 350. There was an employment increase in retail trade, up 525.

Pontiac area: The unemployment rate increased from 6.2 percent in September 2008 to 10.7 percent in September 2009. During this same period, non-farm payroll jobs declined by 1,175. The largest losses reported were in manufacturing, 500; construction, 150; leisure and hospitality, 150; and government, 150.

[to top of second column]

Not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates

Metropolitan areas

Sept. 2009*

Sept. 2008

Bloomington-Normal

7.4%

5.2%

Champaign-Urbana

8.3%

5.6%

Chicago-Naperville-Joliet

10.1%

6.2%

Danville

12.0%

8.4%

Davenport-Moline-
Rock Island

8.4%

5.1%

Decatur

12.4%

7.3%

Kankakee-Bradley

12.8%

8.6%

Lake-Kenosha, Ill.-Wis.

9.9%

6.3%

Peoria

11.1%

5.6%

Rockford

15.2%

8.9%

Springfield

7.9%

6.1%

St. Louis (Ill. section)

9.9%

7.2%

* Data subject to revision.

Not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates (percent) for local counties and areas

Labor market areas

Sept. 2009

Sept. 2008

Bloomington-Normal

   

McLean County

7.4 %

5.2 %

Peoria MSA

   

Marshall County

10.6 %

5.0 %

Peoria County

11.6 %

6.0 %

Stark County

9.8 %

5.7 %

Tazewell County

11.3 %

5.6 %

Woodford County

8.6 %

4.3 %

Ottawa-Streator Area

12.1 %

7.0 %

Bureau County

10.9 %

5.9 %

LaSalle County

12.4 %

7.4 %

Putnam County

15.0 %

6.3 %

Galesburg Area

9.7 %

6.5 %

Knox County

10.3 %

6.7 %

Warren County

8.0 %

6.0 %

Cities

   

Bloomington

7.9 %

5.3 %

Galesburg

10.7 %

7.4 %

Normal

6.9 %

5.3 %

Pekin

13.7 %

6.5 %

Peoria

12.2 %

6.4 %

Counties

   

DeWitt County

9.2 %

6.1 %

Fulton County

12.5 %

6.8 %

Henderson County

9.4 %

7.4 %

Henry County

8.6 %

5.9 %

Livingston County

10.7 %

6.2 %

Logan County

9.5 %

7.0 %

Mason County

14.3 %

8.0 %

(Table below: Total non-farm jobs (not seasonally adjusted) -- September 2009)

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


Total non-farm jobs (not seasonally adjusted) -- September 2009

Metropolitan Area

September
2009*

September
2008**

Over-the-Year Change

Bloomington-Normal MSA

91,500

93,100

-1,600

Champaign-Urbana MSA

115,300

116,300

-1,000

Chicago-Naperville-Joliet Metro Div.

3,665,500

3,853,700

-188,200

Danville MSA

30,200

31,100

-900

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA

187,900

190,900

-3,000

Decatur MSA

53,100

55,600

-2,500

Kankakee-Bradley MSA

42,800

44,400

-1,600

Lake County-Kenosha County Metro Div.

390,200

403,800

-13,600

Peoria MSA

185,200

191,600

-6,400

Rockford MSA

154,700

159,300

-4,600

Springfield MSA

111,500

112,300

-800

Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA

243,100

246,400

-3,300

 

                *Preliminary    **Revised

Notes:

  • Monthly 2008 unemployment rates and total non-farm jobs for Illinois metropolitan areas were revised in March 2009, as required by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Any records or historical analysis previously cited might no longer be valid under the new 2008 monthly series.

  • The official monthly unemployment rate series for metropolitan areas and other substate areas begins in January 1990; unemployment rates for earlier years are not strictly comparable.

  • Unemployment rates are based upon the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program. Due to changes in geographic definitions for metro areas based on census population and commuting patterns, the official LAUS data series begins in January 1990. For more information visit http://lmi.ides.state.il.us/laus/lausmenu.htm.

  • Payroll jobs data are based upon the Current Employment Statistics survey of 16,000 firms in Illinois; visit http://lmi.ides.state.il.us/cesfiles/cesmenu.htm for additional information.

[Tables copied from Illinois Department of Employment Security file]

< Top Stories index

Back to top


 

News | Sports | Business | Rural Review | Teaching and Learning | Home and Family | Tourism | Obituaries

Community | Perspectives | Law and Courts | Leisure Time | Spiritual Life | Health and Fitness | Teen Scene
Calendar | Letters to the Editor