SPRINGFIELD - The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in April 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.

"The continued positive trajectory of Illinois' economy is encouraging," said Deputy Governor Andy Manar.  "IDES and the Pritzker Administration are committed to supporting businesses and job seekers as they innovate, grow, and connect all across Illinois."

The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Bloomington MSA (+5.4%, +4,800), the Rockford MSA (+5.2%, +7,200), the Springfield MSA (+4.6%, +4,800), and the Chicago Metropolitan Division (+4.6%, +162,200). The Danville MSA saw no change in total nonfarm jobs. Industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included: Leisure and Hospitality (fourteen areas); Manufacturing (thirteen areas); Other Services (twelve areas); Retail Trade and Government (eleven areas each); Professional and Business Services (ten areas); Transportation, Warehousing and Public Utilities and Education and Health Services (nine areas each).

The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (-2.9 points to 4.1%), the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (-2.1 points to 3.7%), and the Rockford MSA (-1.5 points to 7.7%). The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in 93 counties, increased in seven and was unchanged in two.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - April 2022

East Central Illinois Highlights

Champaign-Urbana MSA

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 4.0 percent in April 2022 from 4.8 percent in April 2021. The last time the April rate was equal to or lower  was in 2019 when it was 3.4 percent. 

Nonfarm employment increased by +1,800 compared to last April.
 
Leisure-Hospitality (+1,300), Educational-Health Services (+300), Professional-Business Services (+300), Retail Trade (+200), and Manufacturing (+200) had the largest payroll gains over the year. The Government (-300), Information  (-100), Financial Activities (-100),   Construction (-100),   and Wholesale Trade (-100) sectors had employment declines from a year ago.

Danville MSA

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.8 percent in April 2022 from 6.4 percent in April 2021. The last time the April rate was equal to or lower  was in 2019 when it was 4.5 percent. 

Total nonfarm employment was unchanged over the year.

Government (+100) and Leisure-Hospitality (+100) had payroll gains over the year. The Manufacturing (-100) and Other Services (-100) sectors recorded employment declines over the year.

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. The official monthly unemployment rate series for metro areas, counties and most cities begins in 1990. The official monthly nonfarm jobs series for metro areas begins in 1990 and for non-metropolitan counties it begins in 1999.