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 |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
Labor Market Area |
Mar 2022 |
Mar 2021 |
Over the Year Change |
|
Decatur MSA |
|
|
|
|
Macon County |
6.8 % |
8.9 % |
-2.1 |
|
Springfield MSA |
|
|
|
|
Menard County |
3.9 % |
5.2 % |
-1.3 |
|
Sangamon County |
4.6 % |
6.5 % |
-1.9 |
|
Cities |
|
|
|
|
Decatur City |
7.3 % |
10.6 % |
-3.3 |
|
Rock Island City |
4.4 % |
7.1 % |
-2.7 |
|
Springfield City |
4.6 % |
7.2 % |
-2.6 |
|
Counties |
|
|
|
|
Adams County |
3.4 % |
4.6 % |
-1.2 |
|
Brown County |
2.1 % |
2.7 % |
-0.6 |
|
Calhoun County |
4.1 % |
5.5 % |
-1.4 |
|
Christian County |
4.9 % |
6.5 % |
-1.6 |
|
De Witt County |
4.3 % |
5.7 % |
-1.4 |
|
Greene County |
4.0 % |
5.2 % |
-1.2 |
|
Hancock County |
3.9 % |
5.5 % |
-1.6 |
|
Jersey County |
3.6 % |
4.9 % |
-1.3 |
|
Logan County |
4.2 % |
5.5 % |
-1.3 |
|
McDonough County |
4.0 % |
5.4 % |
-1.4 |
|
Macoupin County |
3.9 % |
5.3 % |
-1.4 |
|
Montgomery County |
4.8 % |
6.5 % |
-1.7 |
|
Morgan County |
4.4 % |
5.7 % |
-1.3 |
|
Moultrie County |
3.1 % |
4.0 % |
-0.9 |
|
Piatt County |
3.5 % |
4.6 % |
-1.1 |
|
Pike County |
4.5 % |
4.9 % |
-0.4 |
|
Schuyler County |
4.1 % |
5.0 % |
-0.9 |
|
Scott County |
6.0 % |
6.3 % |
-0.3 |
|
Shelby County |
4.0 % |
5.0 % |
-1.0 |
|
Other Areas |
|
|
|
|
LWIA 19 |
6.5 % |
8.5 % |
-2.0 |
|
LWIA 20 |
4.5 % |
6.3 % |
-1.8 |
|
LWIA 21 |
4.2 % |
5.6 % |
-1.4 |
|
Central EDR |
4.9 % |
6.6 % |
-1.7 |
Central Illinois Highlights
Decatur MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 6.8 percent in March 2022 from 8.9 percent in March 2021. There were an estimated 3,180 unemployed people in the labor force in March 2022.
The number of total nonfarm jobs in the Decatur metro area increased by +1,200 compared to one year ago.
Employment increased in Construction and Mining (+500), Leisure and Hospitality (+400), Other Services (+100), Wholesale Trade (+100), Financial Activities (+100), and Educational and Health Services (+100).
Payrolls were unchanged in Information, Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities, Retail Trade, Government, and Manufacturing.
March payrolls declined in Professional and Business Services (-100).
Springfield MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 4.5 percent in March 2022 from 6.4 percent in March 2021. There were an estimated 4,762 unemployed people in the labor force in March 2022.
The number of total nonfarm jobs in the Springfield metro area increased by +4,100 compared to one year ago.
Payrolls increased in Educational and Health Services (+1,600), Leisure and Hospitality (+1,200), Professional and Business Services (+900), Retail Trade (+200), Other Services (+200), Manufacturing (+200), Mining and Construction (+100), and Government (+100).
No payroll changes were reported in Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities, Information or Wholesale Trade. Decreased employment was reported in Financial Activities (-400).
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.
