The Illinois section of the Quad Cities was one of two metro areas in the state to show a decrease in its September unemployment rate, according to the latest Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) jobs report.
In a Tuesday, Dec. 16 news release IDES said the Quad Cities not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.5% in September. That’s a decrease of -0.4 point from September 2024. The other metropolitan statistical area (MSA) with a decrease was the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg Metro Division. Unemployment there decreased year-over-year by -1.0 point to 4.1% in September.
In all, IDES said the unemployment rate increased over-the-year in 86 counties. It decreased in 13 counties, and was unchanged in three.
In addition, total nonfarm jobs increased over the year in five metropolitan areas. It was unchanged in one, and decreased in six. In the Quad Cities, total nonfarm employment decreased -1,500 to 86,300 jobs in September.
Other sectors in the Quad Cities MSA showed mixed results. Those sectors with payroll gains over the year were: Other Services (+200), Private Education-Health Services (+100) and Government (+100). While these sectors recorded over-the-year employment declines: Professional-Business Services (-800), Manufacturing (-500), Financial Activities (-200), Mining-Construction (-100), Retail Trade (-100), Information (-100) and Leisure-Hospitality (-100).
The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. Those who exhaust benefits, or are ineligible, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.
In its statewide unemployment report IDES said the release of the September results was delayed due to the record 43-day U.S. government shutdown. That report said the statewide unemployment rate was 4.4%. An additional 24,400 nonfarm jobs were added statewide compared to a year ago.
‘Mix of gains, challenges’
September results are based on data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and IDES. They showed unemployment increases in 10 of the state’s 12 metro areas for the year ending September .
Also over the year total nonfarm jobs increased in five MSAs. They were unchanged in one (Champaign Urbana), and decreased in six. This led to consecutive months with year-over-year growth in Chicago (15 consecutive months); Lake (four consecutive months); and Springfield (23 consecutive months).
“Illinois’ latest metropolitan jobs data reflects a mix of gains and challenges, shaped in part by federal uncertainty from tariffs and the recent 43-day government shutdown that delayed key employment data,” Deputy Gov. Andy Manar said in the release. “Even so, record September employment in Chicago and Champaign-Urbana shows Illinois continues to make progress, and the state will remain focused on strategic investments that strengthen our workforce and economy.”
The metro areas which posted the largest over-the-year percentage decreases in total nonfarm jobs were: Kankakee MSA (-2.1%, -900); Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA, Illinois section (-1.7%, -1,500); and Peoria MSA (-1.0%, -1,700).
The largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were: Springfield MSA (+1.6%, +1,800), the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg Metro Division (+1.0%, +39,500), and the Lake County Metro Division (+0.4%, +1,300).
Industries that saw job growth in the majority of the metro areas included: Private Education and Health Services (12 MSAs), Government (nine MSAs), and Mining and Construction (eight MSAs).
The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate increases were the Decatur (+0.5 point to 5.9%) and the Kankakee (+0.5 point to 5.5%). Following that is a tie between Peoria MSA (+0.4 point to 4.7%) and Springfield (+0.4 point to 4.3%).
