Unemployment Rates Down, Jobs Up in Nearly All Metros in March
SPRINGFIELD - The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in thirteen Illinois metropolitan areas and increased in one in March 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 all metro areas with the exception of one.
"Illinois' economy continues on a positive trajectory," said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. "We stand ready to support job seekers and employers with innovative resources to connect across the state."
The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Bloomington MSA (+6.6%, +5,800), the Chicago Metropolitan Division (+5.1%, +177,600), and the Elgin Metro (+5.0%, +11,900). Total nonfarm jobs were down slightly in Kankakee MSA (-0.5%, -200). Industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included: Leisure & Hospitality (fourteen areas); Government (thirteen areas); Wholesale Trade (twelve areas); Manufacturing, Professional & Business Services, and Other Services (ten areas each); Mining & Construction, and Education & Health Services (eight areas each).
The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were the Chicago Metropolitan Division (-2.3 points to 4.5%), the Decatur MSA (-2.1 points to 6.8%) and the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (-2.0 points to 4.3%). The unemployment rate increased in the Rockford MSA +0.2 point to 8.5%. The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in 101 counties and increased in one.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
Metropolitan Area |
March 2022* |
March 2021** |
Over-the-Year Change |
Bloomington |
3.7% |
5.2% |
-1.5 |
Carbondale-Marion |
4.5% |
6.3% |
-1.8 |
Champaign-Urbana |
3.8% |
5.3% |
-1.5 |
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights |
4.5% |
6.8% |
-2.3 |
Danville |
5.6% |
7.3% |
-1.7 |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL |
4.3% |
6.3% |
-2.0 |
Decatur |
6.8% |
8.9% |
-2.1 |
Elgin |
5.4% |
7.3% |
-1.9 |
Kankakee |
6.0% |
7.7% |
-1.7 |
Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI |
4.8% |
6.3% |
-1.5 |
Peoria |
5.3% |
7.0% |
-1.7 |
Rockford |
8.5% |
8.3% |
0.2 |
Springfield |
4.5% |
6.4% |
-1.9 |
St. Louis (IL-Section) |
4.1% |
5.8% |
-1.7 |
Illinois Statewide |
4.7% |
6.7% |
-2.0 |
* Preliminary I ** Revised |
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|
|
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - March 2022
Metropolitan Area |
March |
March |
Over-the-Year |
|
2022* |
2021** |
Change |
Bloomington MSA |
93,100 |
87,300 |
5,800 |
Carbondale-Marion MSA |
57,400 |
55,600 |
1,800 |
Champaign-Urbana MSA |
116,400 |
113,600 |
2,800 |
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division |
3,685,200 |
3,507,600 |
177,600 |
Danville MSA |
25,900 |
25,600 |
300 |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA |
179,500 |
174,700 |
4,800 |
Decatur MSA |
47,800 |
46,600 |
1,200 |
Elgin Metro Division |
249,700 |
237,800 |
11,900 |
Kankakee MSA |
42,400 |
42,600 |
-200 |
Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division |
410,300 |
398,400 |
11,900 |
Peoria MSA |
163,800 |
160,000 |
3,800 |
Rockford MSA |
142,300 |
138,000 |
4,300 |
Springfield MSA |
107,100 |
103,000 |
4,100 |
Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA |
234,600 |
233,100 |
1,500 |
Illinois Statewide |
5,931,100 |
5,689,900 |
241,200 |
* Preliminary | **Revised |
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Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates (percent) for Local Counties and Areas
Labor Market Area |
Mar 2022 |
Mar 2021 |
Over the Year Change |
|
St. Louis (IL-Section) |
4.1 % |
5.8 % |
-1.7 |
|
Bond County |
3.9 % |
5.1 % |
-1.2 |
|
Calhoun County |
4.1 % |
5.5 % |
-1.4 |
|
Clinton County |
3.0 % |
3.9 % |
-0.9 |
|
Jersey County |
3.6 % |
4.9 % |
-1.3 |
|
Macoupin County |
3.9 % |
5.3 % |
-1.4 |
|
Madison County |
3.9 % |
5.6 % |
-1.7 |
|
Monroe County |
2.7 % |
3.5 % |
-0.8 |
|
St. Clair County |
4.9 % |
7.0 % |
-2.1 |
|
Cities |
|
|
|
|
Alton City |
5.3 % |
8.5 % |
-3.2 |
|
Belleville City |
4.7 % |
7.6 % |
-2.9 |
|
Collinsville City |
4.8 % |
6.0 % |
-1.2 |
|
East St. Louis City |
7.0 % |
12.4 % |
-5.4 |
|
Edwardsville City |
2.9 % |
3.8 % |
-0.9 |
|
Granite City |
3.8 % |
7.2 % |
-3.4 |
|
O'Fallon City |
4.0 % |
5.4 % |
-1.4 |
|
Counties |
|
|
|
|
Greene County |
4.0 % |
5.2 % |
-1.2 |
|
Randolph County |
3.4 % |
4.7 % |
-1.3 |
|
Washington County |
2.3 % |
2.9 % |
-0.6 |
|
Other Areas |
|
|
|
|
LWIA 21 |
4.2 % |
5.6 % |
-1.4 |
|
LWIA 22 |
3.8 % |
5.5 % |
-1.7 |
|
LWIA 24 |
4.2 % |
5.9 % |
-1.7 |
|
Southwestern EDR |
4.0 % |
5.7 % |
-1.7 |
Metro East Highlights
The March 2022 unemployment rate for the Illinois Section of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area was 4.1 percent. The over-the-year rate decreased -1.7 percentage points from the March 2021 rate of 5.8 percent. The data is not seasonally adjusted.
The labor force increased by +371 in March 2022 to 334,200 from 333,829 in March 2021. The number of employed individuals increased by +6,069 to 320,470 in March 2022 from 314,401 in March 2021. There were 13,730 unemployed people in the labor force in March 2022. This is a decrease of -5,698 compared to the 19,428 unemployed in March 2021.
The number of total nonfarm jobs in March 2022 was 234,600 compared to 233,100 in March 2021, which is an increase of +1,500.
Payrolls increased in Leisure and Hospitality (+2,000), Government (+500), Manufacturing (+400), Mining and Construction (+200), Other Services (+200), and Professional and Business Services (+200).
Employment declined in Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities (-1,000), Retail Trade (-700), and Financial Activities (-300).
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.
