November Illinois unemployment falls to 9.6 percent

[December 17, 2010]  CHICAGO -- The Illinois unemployment rate fell again in November, even as more people entered the labor force to look for work. The seasonally adjusted rate fell for the eighth consecutive month, dropping 0.2 to 9.6 percent, according to preliminary data released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

The November national unemployment rate increased 0.2 to 9.8 percent. This is the first month since January 2007 that the Illinois unemployment rate has fallen below the U.S. rate.

"Falling unemployment rates even as more people look for work is another encouraging sign that the Illinois economy is moving forward," said Maureen O'Donnell, IDES director.

Preliminary industry data indicates a slight contraction of 2,600 total nonfarm jobs in November. Slight up-and-down movement in preliminary data is not uncommon. The preliminary jobs data for October was revised upward from 8,000 to 11,600. In November, Illinois had 32,900 more jobs than November 2009, the third consecutive monthly year-over-year increase. So far this year, Illinois has added 54,700 jobs, a growth rate of 1.0 percent. The national growth rate is 0.7 percent.

Job sectors leading Illinois' growth trend are professional and business services, up 17,600; educational and health services, up 15,700; trade, transportation and utilities, up 13,100; and manufacturing, up 9,600.

The labor force in November was up 25,700, or 0.4 percent, over October to reach 6,666,800. The labor force has increased for three consecutive months.

The number of unemployed individuals was down for the eighth consecutive month, dropping 7,700, or 1.2 percent, to 641,000, the lowest level since April 2009. Total unemployed has declined 123,800, or 16.2 percent, since March 2010, when the state unemployment rate peaked at 11.5 percent.

The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. People who exhaust their unemployment insurance benefits, or are ineligible, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security supports economic stability by administering unemployment benefits, collecting business contributions to fund those benefits, connecting employers with qualified job-seekers and providing economic information to assist career planning and economic development. It does so through nearly 60 offices, including Illinois workNet centers.

Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates

	Nov. 2010	Oct. 2010	Nov. 2009	3-mo. moving avg.
Illinois	9.6%	9.8%	10.9%*	9.8%
U.S.	9.8%	9.6%	10.0%*	9.7%

* Revised

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