Illinois Sept. unemployment rate at 10.5 percent

[October 17, 2009]  CHICAGO -- The Illinois seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August increased 0.5 percent, reaching 10.5 percent, according to figures released Friday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. It is the highest level since October 1983. The three-month moving average increased 0.1 percent, reaching 10.3 percent, its highest level since December 1983.

"As we anticipate the approaching economic rebound and subsequent recovery, individuals are encouraged to use this time to explore training and educational opportunities to develop the job skills that will be in demand," said Maureen O’Donnell, department director.

Illinois non-farm payroll reported 14,200 fewer jobs in September than the previous month, the 20th consecutive monthly loss. The state job total of 5,634,700 is at its lowest level since December 1995. Employment in the trade and transportation sector declined 5,600, its eighth consecutive monthly job loss. The manufacturing sector retrenched in September and lost 3,500 jobs after gaining 2,600 jobs in August, the first increase since January 2008. The professional and business services and leisure and hospitality sectors each lost 2,700 jobs compared with levels the previous month.

Nationally, the September unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percent to reach 9.8 percent, the highest rate since 1983. Total non-farm payroll fell for the 21st consecutive month (down 263,000), bringing total national job loss to 7.2 million since the onset of the recession in December 2007. National employment decline continues to be led by the manufacturing, professional and business services, and construction sectors, dropping by 2.1 million, 1.5 million and 1.5 million jobs respectively since December 2007. Illinois has lost 356,500 jobs since the onset of the recession: 96,000 in manufacturing, 87,300 in professional and business services, and 48,400 in construction.

The unemployment rate is not the same measurement as those collecting unemployment benefits. The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment, regardless of whether 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.

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 below.)

[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

	September 2009	August 2009	September 2008
Illinois	10.5%	10.0%*	6.7%*
U.S.	9.8%	9.7%	6.2%
*  Revised

Illinois Seasonally Adjusted Non-Farm Jobs – by Major Industry

Industry Title	September* 2009	August** 2009	September** 2008	Over the Month Change	Over the Year Change
Total Non-Farm	5,634,700	5,648,900	5,941,600	-14,200	-306,900
Mining	10,200	10,100	10,200	100	0
Construction	219,300	220,700	259,000	-1,400	-39,700
Manufacturing	574,800	578,300	655,500	-3,500	-80,700
Trade, Transportation, & Utilities	1,143,500	1,149,100	1,201,700	-5,600	-58,200
Information	106,600	107,200	114,400	-600	-7,800
Financial Activities	370,500	370,600	389,900	-100	-19,400
Professional and Business Services	788,000	790,700	857,500	-2,700	-69,500
Educational and Health Services	792,200	796,600	804,500	-4,400	-12,300
Leisure and Hospitality	517,800	520,500	528,300	-2,700	-10,500
Other Services	258,800	256,700	264,500	2,100	-5,700
Government	853,000	848,400	856,100	4,600	-3,100
	*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]