Unemployment Rates Down for the Eighth Consecutive Month, Jobs Up in All Metro Areas

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

"November's continued positive growth is another encouraging sign for our strengthening economy," said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. "As we look towards the new year, Illinois is committed to building on this momentum, to ensure workers and businesses continue to thrive across the state."

Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs increased in all fourteen metropolitan areas. The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Carbondale-Marion MSA (+4.6%, +2,600), the Chicago-Metropolitan Division (+4.0%, +141,000),  the Champaign-Urbana MSA (+3.8%, +4,400) and the Kankakee MSA (+3.8%, +1,600). The industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included: Leisure & Hospitality (fourteen areas); Other Services and Government (twelve areas each); Wholesale Trade and Transportation, Warehousing & Public Utilities (eleven areas each); Professional & Business Services (ten areas); Mining and Construction (nine areas); Manufacturing and Education & Health Services (eight areas each).

The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (-4.1 points to 4.8%), Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI Metropolitan Division (-2.1 points to 3.5%), the Decatur MSA (-2.0 points to 6.1%) and the Elgin Metropolitan Division (-2.0 points to 4.3%).  The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in all 102 counties.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - November 2021

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metro Division

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 4.8 percent in November 2021 from 8.9 percent in November 2020.  The last time the November rate was equal to or lower was in 2019 when it was 3.1 percent. 

Total nonfarm employment increased +141,000 compared to November 2020. The Information (-700) sector recorded employment declines compared to one year ago.  Leisure-Hospitality (+57,000), Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+25,100), Professional-Business Services (+23,300), and Educational-Health Services (+13,600) sectors had the largest payroll gains over the year.

Elgin, IL Metro Division

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 4.3 percent in November 2021 from 6.3 percent in November 2020. The last time the November rate was equal to or lower was in 2019 when it was 3.3 percent.
 
Total nonfarm employment increased +8,300 compared to November 2020.  The Educational-Health Services (-300) and Financial Activities (-100) sectors recorded employment declines compared to one year ago. Leisure-Hospitality (+2,200), Retail Trade  (+1,900), Manufacturing  (+1,500), and Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+800) sectors had the largest payroll gains over the year.

Lake & Kenosha Counties, IL-WI Metro Division

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 3.5 percent in November 2021 from 5.6 percent in November 2020. The last time the November rate was equal to or lower was in 2019 when it was 3.2 percent.   

Total nonfarm employment increased +9,200 compared to November 2020. The Professional-Business Services (-4,400), Educational-Health Services (-600), and Construction (-300) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago. Leisure-Hospitality (+6,300), Manufacturing  (+2,900), Government  (+2,300), and Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+2,200) sectors had the largest payroll gains over the year.

Kankakee, IL MSA

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.0 percent in November 2021 from 6.6 percent in November 2020.  The last time the November rate was equal to or lower was in 2019 when it was 4.4 percent. 

Total nonfarm employment increased +1,600 compared to November 2020.  The Educational-Health Services (-200) and Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (-100) sectors recorded employment declines compared to one year ago.  The Professional-Business Services (+600), Leisure-Hospitality (+500), Retail Trade (+200), Government (+200), Wholesale Trade  (+200), and Manufacturing (+200) sectors had the largest payroll gains over the year.

Note:  Monthly 2020 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2021, 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.