Jobs Up in Majority of Metro Areas in February
SPRINGFIELD - Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs increased in eleven metropolitan areas and decreased in three for the year ending February 2024, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES). Over-the-year, the unemployment rate increased in all fourteen metropolitan areas.
"Today's data continues to highlight the health and expansion of the Illinois labor market, with increases in jobs throughout a multitude of industries touching every corner of the state," said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. "As growth continues to supply jobseekers and employers with new opportunities, IDES and its workforce partners are positioned to assist both groups to thrive in the state's economy."
The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Champaign-Urbana MSA (+3.2%, +3,900), the Elgin Metro (+2.1%, +5,300), and the Bloomington MSA (+1.4%, +1,400). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago Metro were almost unchanged (0.0%, +1,400). The metro areas which had over-the-year decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Decatur MSA (-3.3%, -1,600), the Springfield MSA (-3.0%, -3,300), and the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (-0.9%, -1,600). Industries that saw job growth in most metro areas included: Government (thirteen areas); Mining and Construction and Education and Health Services (ten areas each); Wholesale Trade and Other Services (eight areas each).
The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate increases were the Chicago Metro (+0.8 point to 5.1%), the Decatur MSA (+0.5 point to 6.4%), and the Illinois section of St. Louis MSA (+0.5 point to 4.6%).
Unemployment Rates (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
| Metropolitan Area | February 2024* | February 2023** | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 4.3% | 4.0% | 0.3 |
| Carbondale-Marion | 4.9% | 4.5% | 0.4 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 4.4% | 4.1% | 0.3 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 5.1% | 4.3% | 0.8 |
| Danville | 6.1% | 6.0% | 0.1 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 4.8% | 4.7% | 0.1 |
| Decatur | 6.4% | 5.9% | 0.5 |
| Elgin | 6.3% | 5.9% | 0.4 |
| Kankakee | 6.8% | 6.6% | 0.2 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 5.8% | 5.5% | 0.3 |
| Peoria | 5.8% | 5.5% | 0.3 |
| Rockford | 6.8% | 6.4% | 0.4 |
| Springfield | 4.8% | 4.5% | 0.3 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) | 4.6% | 4.1% | 0.5 |
| Illinois Statewide | 5.3% | 4.7% | 0.6 |
| * Preliminary I ** Revised |
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Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - February 2024
| Metropolitan Area | February | February | Over-the-Year |
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| 2024* | 2023** | Change |
| Bloomington MSA | 98,800 | 97,400 | 1,400 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 58,500 | 57,800 | 700 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 124,600 | 120,700 | 3,900 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,752,600 | 3,751,200 | 1,400 |
| Danville MSA | 26,700 | 26,500 | 200 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 179,000 | 180,600 | -1,600 |
| Decatur MSA | 46,800 | 48,400 | -1,600 |
| Elgin Metro Division | 261,800 | 256,500 | 5,300 |
| Kankakee MSA | 42,600 | 42,200 | 400 |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 411,900 | 409,400 | 2,500 |
| Peoria MSA | 168,300 | 167,100 | 1,200 |
| Rockford MSA | 144,100 | 143,400 | 700 |
| Springfield MSA | 105,900 | 109,200 | -3,300 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 238,500 | 237,700 | 800 |
| Illinois Statewide | 6,035,800 | 6,012,900 | 22,900 |
| *Preliminary | **Revised |
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Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
| Labor Market Area | Feb 2024 | Feb 2023 | Over-the-Year Change |
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| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division | |||||
| Cook County | 5.2 % | 4.4 % | 0.8 | ||
| DuPage County | 4.0 % | 3.3 % | 0.7 | ||
| Grundy County | 6.3 % | 5.5 % | 0.8 | ||
| Kendall County | 4.9 % | 4.1 % | 0.8 | ||
| McHenry County | 5.0 % | 4.1 % | 0.9 | ||
| Will County | 5.5 % | 4.6 % | 0.9 | ||
| Elgin, IL Metro Division |
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| DeKalb County | 5.6 % | 5.1 % | 0.5 | ||
| Kane County | 6.5 % | 6.0 % | 0.5 | ||
| Lake & Kenosha, IL-WI Metro Division |
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| Lake County (IL) | 6.4 % | 5.9 % | 0.5 | ||
| Kankakee, IL MSA |
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| Kankakee County | 6.8 % | 6.6 % | 0.2 | ||
| Cities |
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| Aurora City | 5.6 % | 5.0 % | 0.6 | ||
| Chicago City | 5.4 % | 4.5 % | 0.9 | ||
| Elgin City | 8.7 % | 8.2 % | 0.5 | ||
| Joliet City | 7.0 % | 6.1 % | 0.9 | ||
| Kankakee City | 9.4 % | 9.3 % | 0.1 | ||
| Naperville City | 3.7 % | 3.0 % | 0.7 | ||
* Unemployment rates for cities with total population of 25,000 or more can be found at https://www2.illinois.gov/ides/lmi/Pages/Local_Area_Unemployment_Statistics.aspx
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 5.1 percent in February 2024 from 4.3 percent in February 2023.
Total nonfarm employment increased +1,400 compared to February 2023. The Educational-Health Services (+19,900), Government (+9,100) and Manufacturing (+6,500) sectors had the largest payroll gains over-the-year. The largest employment declines were recorded in Professional-Business Services (-32,200), Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (-5,700) and Retail Trade (-3,100).
Elgin, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 6.3 percent in February 2024 from 5.9 percent in February 2023.
Total nonfarm employment increased +5,300 compared to February 2023. Employers in the Government (+2,400) and Educational-Health Services (+1,700) sectors had the largest payroll gains over-the-year. Employers in the Professional-Business Services (-1,100) and Information (-100) sectors had employment declines from a year ago.
Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 5.8 percent in February 2024 from 5.5 percent in February 2023.
Total nonfarm employment increased +2,500 compared to February 2023. The Leisure-Hospitality (+2,900), Educational-Health Services (+1,700) and Government (+1,300) sectors had the largest payroll gains over-the-year. Professional-Business Services (-1,800) and Financial Activities (-1,300) employers reported the largest employment declines from a year ago.
Kankakee, IL MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 6.8 percent in February 2024 from 6.6 percent in February 2023.
Total nonfarm employment increased +400 compared to February 2023. The Educational-Health Services (+500), Government (+300) and Financial Activities (+100) sectors had payroll gains over-the-year. Employers in the Professional-Business Services (-200), Manufacturing (-200) and Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (-100) sectors recorded an employment decline compared to one year ago.
Note: Monthly 2023 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2024, 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.
Disclaimer: The data contained in the metro area employment numbers press releases are not seasonally adjusted, and therefore are subject to seasonal fluctuations due to factors such as changes in weather, harvests, major holidays and school schedules. Current monthly metro data should be compared to the same month from prior years (January 2024 data compared to January 2023 data) as data for these months have similar seasonal patterns. Comparisons should not be made to data for the immediate previous month or other previous non-matching months, as any changes in the data within these time periods may be the result of seasonal fluctuations and not economic factors.
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