National recession pushes state unemployment rate to 11.0 percent

[November 20, 2009]  CHICAGO -- The Illinois seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October is 11.0 percent, up 0.5 percent from the previous month and its highest level since August 1983, according to figures released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The three-month moving average is 10.5 percent, its highest level since November 1983.

"While the slowing pace of job loss and other leading economic indicators bring with it cautious optimism, they are of little comfort to those seeking meaningful employment during this national recession," IDES Director Maureen O’Donnell said. "Past economic recoveries suggest the nation will begin to benefit from a growing economy before unemployment rates in Illinois begin to retreat."

Job loss continues in Illinois, but at a much slower pace. Non-farm payroll employment recorded 3,200 fewer jobs in October, the 21st consecutive monthly loss. October payroll employment in Illinois reached 5,635,600, its lowest jobs level since September 1995. Job losses were reported in several industry sectors, but the loss fell below recent monthly averages. Employment in the trade and transportation sector dipped by 1,400 positions, and the manufacturing sector lost 800 jobs. Some job sectors reported gains. The educational and health services, professional and business services, and construction sectors each reported slight gains over the previous month, adding 3,600, 1,300 and 1,000 jobs, respectively.

Nationally, the October unemployment rate increased by 0.4 percent to reach 10.2 percent, the highest rate since April 1983. Total non-farm payroll fell for the 22nd consecutive month (down 190,000), bringing total national job loss to 7.3 million since the onset of the recession in December 2007. National employment declines have been led by the manufacturing, trade and transportation, construction, and professional and business services sectors, dropping by 2.1 million, 1.7 million, 1.6 million and 1.5 million jobs, respectively, since December 2007.

Illinois has lost 359,700 jobs since the onset of the recession: 95,200 in manufacturing, 88,500 in professional and business services, 76,900 in trade and transportation, and 47,400 in construction.

The unemployment rate is not the same measurement as those collecting unemployment benefits. The unemployment rate identifies people who are out of work and seeking employment, regardless if they are eligible for unemployment insurance. Workers collecting benefits are counted separately. Therefore, a person who exhausts or is ineligible for unemployment insurance would still be reflected in the unemployment rate if the person is seeking employment.

(See tables below.)

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.

[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

	October 2009	September 2009	October 2008*
Illinois	11.0%	10.5%	6.8%
U.S.	10.2%	9.8%	6.6%
*  Revised

Illinois Seasonally Adjusted Non-Farm Jobs – by Major Industry

Industry Title	October* 2009	September ** 2009	October** 2008	Over the Month Change	Over the Year Change
Total Non-Farm	5,635,600	5,638,800	5,921,900	-3,200	-286,300
Mining	10,300	10,200	10,200	100	100
Construction	220,300	219,300	255,300	1,000	-35,000
Manufacturing	575,600	576,400	654,700	-800	-79,100
Trade, Transportation, & Utilities	1,139,200	1,140,600	1,192,400	-1,400	-53,200
Information	106,100	106,900	114,100	-800	-8,000
Financial Activities	369,200	369,500	388,500	-300	-19,300
Professional and Business Services	786,800	785,500	854,700	1,300	-67,900
Educational and Health Services	798,100	794,500	806,700	3,600	-8,600
Leisure and Hospitality	516,900	520,600	525,500	-3,700	-8,600
Other Services	256,900	258,700	263,900	-1,800	-7,000
Government	856,200	856,600	855,900	-400	300
	*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]