Improving trends push unemployment below 10 percent

Chicago, Peoria, Rockford, Decatur, Metro East lead steady progress

[September 24, 2010]  CHICAGO -- The August statewide unemployment rate is 9.9 percent and in single digits for the first August since 2008, offering additional trend data that shows the Illinois economy is steadily improving. It has been 15 months since the rate was below 10 percent. Also, for the first time in 40 months, the rate dropped in most metropolitan areas. Both rates are not seasonally adjusted. Illinois has added 37,600 jobs so far this year. The vast majority are in the private sector.

The 9.9 percent statewide unemployment rate was down from 10.4 in August 2009. It was the first August below 10 percent since August 2008, when it was 6.8 percent, and the first time below 10 percent since May 2009. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate has consistently dropped since it peaked at 12.2 percent in January of this year.

Nationally, the August rate was 9.5 percent. It was 9.6 percent in August 2009, and its peak was 10.6 percent in January 2010.

Unemployment rates dropped in nine of 12 Illinois metro areas. Rates were unchanged in two and slightly up in one. April 2007 was the last time most metro areas (nine of 12) reported a decline in the unemployment rate. The largest August declines were in Peoria, down 1.7 points to 9.9 percent; Rockford, down 1.6 points to 14.5 percent; Decatur, down 0.9 points to 11.7 percent; and Metro East, down 0.9 points to 10.1 percent. The Chicago-Joliet-Naperville division's unemployment rate declined 0.4 point to 9.7 percent. (See table.)

Over-the-year job growth occurred in Rockford, up 700; Danville, up 200; and Peoria, up 100.

"We know the Illinois economy is pushing forward. More people each month are feeling that steady momentum. Continuing to encourage job creation and investment opportunities offers the best path to recovery," said IDES Director Maureen O'Donnell.

Not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates

Metropolitan area	August 2010*	August 2009
Bloomington-Normal	7.9%	7.9%
Champaign-Urbana	9.4%	9.6%
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville	9.7%	10.1%
Danville	11.9%	12.6%
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	8.1%	8.5%
Decatur	11.7%	12.6%
Kankakee-Bradley	12.7%	12.6%
Lake-Kenosha, Ill.-Wis.	10.1%	10.3%
Peoria	9.9%	11.6%
Rockford	14.5%	16.1%
Springfield	7.9%	7.9%
St. Louis (Ill. section)	10.1%	11.0%

* Data subject to revision.

Notes: Data that is not seasonally adjusted compares the current month with the same month of the previous year. The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and looking for work. A person not collecting unemployment benefits will be reflected in the rate if they continue to look for work, even if they have exhausted their benefits.

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