Illinois unemployment dips slightly in August

[September 18, 2009]  CHICAGO -- The Illinois seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate decreased 0.4 point, for a figure of 10 percent in August, according to figures released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Slight increases and decreases in the rate are to be expected in a recession. The three-month moving average remained at 10.2 percent, its highest level since 1983.

"For many months, we have encouraged people to be optimistic and realistic. These numbers likely reflect the fluctuation that happens in every recession," said Maureen O'Donnell, IDES director. "We encourage people to use our services to compare their skill sets to the changing job market and take advantage of training opportunities that are available."

Illinois payroll employment declined by 19,200 jobs in August. Although the pace of job loss has slowed, it has been in the range of 15,000 to 20,000 for four consecutive months. Manufacturing posted its first gain, 2,100 jobs, in 19 months and its largest gain in 38 months, part of which could be attributed to the Cash for Clunkers program. Construction, adding 500 jobs, and information, up 900 jobs, reported small increases following 11 straight months of losses. Employment in the trade and transportation sector dropped 6,200 jobs in August, its biggest loss in eight months. Payroll jobs in professional and business services decreased 5,400.

Nationally, the August unemployment rate increased by 0.3, to 9.7 percent, its highest level in 26 years. Total non-farm payroll fell for the 20th consecutive month, losing 216,000, bringing total national job loss to 6.9 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 2 million, 1.5 million and 1.4 million jobs respectively since December 2007. Illinois has lost 342,800 jobs since the onset of the recession: 93,000 in manufacturing, 84,500 in professional and business services, and 46,800 in construction.

The unemployment rate is not the same measurement as the one used to determine the number of people collecting unemployment insurance. The unemployment rate is determined through a statistical calculation based on a national sample survey. In contrast, the number of people collecting unemployment insurance is an actual count of people who seek benefits and remain eligible to receive those benefits.

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 of unemployment 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

	August 2009	July 2009	August 2008
Illinois	10.0%	10.4%*	6.7%*
U.S.	9.7%	9.4%	6.2%
*  Revised

Illinois Seasonally Adjusted Non-Farm Jobs – by Major Industry

Industry Title	August* 2009	July** 2009	August** 2008	Over the Month Change	Over the Year Change
Total Non-Farm	5,648,400	5,667,600	5,954,500	-19,200	-306,100
Mining	10,100	10,100	10,200	0	-100
Construction	220,900	220,400	260,400	500	-39,500
Manufacturing	577,800	575,700	657,900	2,100	-80,100
Trade, Transportation, & Utilities	1,148,400	1,154,600	1,205,500	-6,200	-57,100
Information	107,200	106,300	115,100	900	-7,900
Financial Activities	370,900	374,100	391,000	-3,200	-20,100
Professional and Business Services	790,800	796,200	860,900	-5,400	-70,100
Educational and Health Services	797,300	798,400	803,400	-1,100	-6,100
Leisure and Hospitality	520,000	522,900	531,300	-2,900	-11,300
Other Services	256,300	259,500	264,900	-3,200	-8,600
Government	848,700	849,400	853,900	-700	-5,200
	*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]