Local unemployment falls across state for 4th consecutive month

Job growth reported in 11 of 12 economic regions

[April 22, 2011]  CHICAGO -- In March, the year-over-year unemployment rate fell in every county in Illinois for an unprecedented fourth consecutive month, according to preliminary data released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The not seasonally adjusted data compares March 2011 with March 2010. The data set began in 1974.

Unemployment rates also fell in every metropolitan area for a record seventh consecutive month. That has not occurred since this data set was created in 1984.

The largest declines were in Rockford, down 3.9 points to 13.3 percent; Peoria, down 2.8 points to 9.1 percent; Danville, down 2.6 points to 10.6 percent; Decatur, down 2.5 points to 10.7 percent; and Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, down 2.4 points to 8.7 percent.

_______

Not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates

Metropolitan area	March 2011*	March 2010
Bloomington-Normal	6.9%	8.2%
Champaign-Urbana	7.8%	9.2%
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville	8.7%	11.1%
Danville	10.6%	13.2%
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	8.1%	9.6%
Decatur	10.7%	13.2%
Kankakee-Bradley	12.7%	15.0%
Lake-Kenosha, Ill.- Wis.	10.3%	12.4%
Peoria	9.1%	11.9%
Rockford	13.3%	17.2%
Springfield	7.6%	8.9%
St. Louis (Ill. section)	9.6%	11.6%

* Data subject to revision.

_______

Over the year, total payroll jobs increased in 11 metropolitan areas and decreased in one.

The largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were Peoria, up 3.8 percent, 6,600 jobs; Decatur, up 2.1 percent, 1,100 jobs; Chicago-Joliet-Naperville area, up 1.3 percent, 44,800 jobs; and the Quad Cities, up 1.3 percent, 2,200 jobs.

Four industry sectors saw over-the-year job growth in nine metro areas each, including mining and construction; manufacturing; professional and business services; and educational and health services.

"Today's report is encouraging because the long-term trends of job creation and falling unemployment rates again are visible," IDES Director Maureen O'Donnell said. "Success in any job market is tied to educational achievement and vocational training. Individuals who have not updated their skills since the Great Recession need to leverage employment service programs to assess potential career paths and identify where help can be obtained."

Not seasonally adjusted data compares the current month with the same month of the previous year. The March 2011 not seasonally adjusted state rate was 9.1 percent, compared with 12.1 percent at its peak in this economic cycle, in January 2010. Nationally, the rate was 9.2 percent in March and 10.6 percent in January 2010 at its peak.

The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and looking for work. People ineligible for benefits still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they continue to look for work.

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