SPRINGFIELD - The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in January for the tenth consecutive month according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). Jobs were up in twelve metro areas, and were unchanged in one, and down in another.

"Today's data reflects Illinois' increasingly strong economy," said Deputy Governor Andy Manar.  "Continued job growth across multiple regions and industries is a sign of more progress. We look forward to sustaining this work in the months ahead, by connecting employers and job seekers with more resources and opportunities."

The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Bloomington MSA (+7.9%, +6,700), the Elgin MSA (+6.0%, +14,000), the Chicago Metro Division (+5.6%, +193,800) and the Springfield MSA (+5.6%, +5,600). Total nonfarm jobs were down slightly in the  Champaign-Urbana MSA (-0.2%, -200) and unchanged in the Kankakee MSA. The industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included: Leisure & Hospitality (fourteen areas); Wholesale Trade and Other Services (twelve areas each); Government (eleven areas); Professional & Business Services (ten areas); and Manufacturing and Education & Health Services (nine areas each).

The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (-2.8 points to 5.1%), the Decatur MSA   (-2.7 points to 7.4%) and the Springfield MSA (-2.5 points to 5.1%). The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in all 102 counties for the third straight month.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Metropolitan Area	January 2022*	January 2021**	Over-the-Year Change
Bloomington	4.1%	6.4%	-2.3
Carbondale-Marion	5.1%	6.9%	-1.8
Champaign-Urbana	4.4%	6.3%	-1.9
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights	5.1%	7.9%	-2.8
Danville	6.3%	8.2%	-1.9
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	5.3%	7.4%	-2.1
Decatur	7.4%	10.1%	-2.7
Elgin	5.9%	8.3%	-2.4
Kankakee	6.8%	8.7%	-1.9
Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI	5.1%	7.1%	-2.0
Peoria	5.9%	8.2%	-2.3
Rockford	8.7%	11.1%	-2.4
Springfield	5.1%	7.6%	-2.5
St. Louis (IL-Section)	4.7%	6.7%	-2.0
Illinois Statewide	5.3%	7.8%	-2.5
* Preliminary  I  ** Revised

Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - January  2022

Metropolitan Area	January	January	Over-the-Year
	2022*	2021**	Change
Bloomington MSA	91,500	84,800	6,700
Carbondale-Marion MSA	55,700	53,800	1,900
Champaign-Urbana MSA	109,700	109,900	-200
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division	3,637,500	3,443,700	193,800
Danville MSA	25,500	25,300	200
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA	176,900	171,000	5,900
Decatur MSA	47,400	45,300	2,100
Elgin Metro Division	246,500	232,500	14,000
Kankakee MSA	41,600	41,600	0
Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division	405,800	393,400	12,400
Peoria MSA	162,000	157,400	4,600
Rockford MSA	141,000	135,600	5,400
Springfield MSA	105,800	100,200	5,600
Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA	230,500	227,000	3,500
Illinois Statewide	5,846,000	5,579,700	266,300
*Preliminary | **Revised

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates (percent) for Local Counties and Areas

Labor Market Area	Jan 2022	Jan 2021	Over the Year Change
Carbondale-Marion MSA	5.1 %	6.9 %	-1.8
Jackson County	4.9 %	6.9 %	-2.0
Williamson County	5.3 %	7.0 %	-1.7
Surrounding Counties
Alexander County	7.8 %	9.9 %	-2.1
Franklin County	6.2 %	8.0 %	-1.8
Johnson County	6.3 %	7.8 %	-1.5
Massac County	5.0 %	8.3 %	-3.3
Perry County	5.5 %	7.0 %	-1.5
Pulaski County	8.9 %	12.1 %	-3.2
Randolph County	4.0 %	5.7 %	-1.7
Union County	6.2 %	7.7 %	-1.5
Harrisburg Area
Gallatin County	5.5 %	7.9 %	-2.4
Hamilton County	4.2 %	5.6 %	-1.4
Hardin County	6.5 %	8.4 %	-1.9
Pope County	4.9 %	7.0 %	-2.1
Saline County	6.1 %	8.0 %	-1.9
White County	4.7 %	6.0 %	-1.3
Olney - Mt. Carmel Area
Edwards County	4.7 %	6.4 %	-1.7
Lawrence County	6.1 %	8.1 %	-2.0
Richland County	4.1 %	5.7 %	-1.6
Wabash County	4.0 %	6.2 %	-2.2
Wayne County	4.7 %	6.1 %	-1.4
Other Areas
LWIA 23	4.6 %	6.4 %	-1.8
LWIA 24	4.8 %	6.8 %	-2.0
LWIA 25	5.4 %	7.2 %	-1.8
LWIA 26	5.4 %	7.3 %	-1.9
Southern EDR	5.4 %	7.3 %	-1.9

Southern Illinois Highlights

Carbondale - Marion Area

The January 2022 unemployment rate was 5.1 percent.  This was a decrease of -1.8 percentage points from the January 2021 rate of 6.9 percent. Total nonfarm employment in January 2022 increased by +1,900 compared to last January.

Employment increased in Government (+300).

Surrounding Counties

Total nonfarm employment increased by +1,025 compared to January 2021.

Employment gains were posted in Government (+450), Manufacturing (+75), Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+50), Educational and Health Services (+50), Information (+25), and Other Services (+25). January payrolls declined in Professional and Business Services (-150), Natural Resources and Mining (-50), or Construction (-25).  No change was reported in Financial Activities. 

Harrisburg Area      Total nonfarm employment increased by +325 compared to January 2021.

Employment gains were posted in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+125), Government (+100), Leisure and Hospitality (+100), Information (+50), Financial Activities (+50), Other Services (+50), Professional and Business Services (+25), and Natural Resources and Mining (+25).

Employment declined in Educational and Health Services (-125), Manufacturing (-75), and Construction (-50).

Olney - Mt. Carmel Area 

Total nonfarm employment increased by +600 compared to January 2021.

Employment gains were posted in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+225), Government (+150), Leisure and Hospitality (+100), Other Services (+75), Natural Resources and Mining (+50), Educational and Health Services (+50), and Financial Activities (+25).

Employment declined in Manufacturing (-100).  No employment changes were reported in Construction, Professional and Business Services, or Information.  

Note: Monthly 2021 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2022, as required by the U.S. BLS.  Comments and tables distributed for prior metro area news releases should be discarded as any records or historical analysis previously cited may no longer be valid.