Illinois’ era of “job growth and expansion” continues, according to the latest employment statistics released Thursday, July 27.
In data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), the State of Illinois’ unemployment rate slightly decreased from 4.8% in June 2022 to 4.5% this June, plus more jobs were added.
According to IDES, all metro areas in Illinois saw more jobs this June compared to a year ago. However, the unemployment rate has gone up slightly in many areas.
In the Quad Cities, for instance, the report shows the metro area filled more jobs. There are about 4,000 more people at work compared to the same time last year. However, the unemployment rate for June has gone up over a half point from 3.7% in 2022 to 4.3% this year.
That same trend is seen in Peoria, Rockford and other areas.
Even with the jobless rate up a bit in most regions of Illinois, economic officials called the data impressive because the unemployment numbers remain relatively low and the economy appears to remain strong.
“Today’s data again shows more than two consecutive years of job growth and expansion within industry sectors and across the state,” Illinois Deputy Governor Andy Manar said in the IDES news release. “As more jobs are created and added to the Illinois labor market, IDES and its workforce partners across the state continue to serve as a vital resource to match jobseekers and employers.”
The Illinois metro areas with the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were: Danville (+3.3%, +900 jobs), Peoria (+2.7%, +4,600), and Champaign-Urbana (+2.6%, +2,900).
Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights metropolitan statistical area (MSA) were up +2.%, an increase of 74,000 jobs. Industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included: education and health services; leisure and hospitality; government; other services; transportation, warehousing and utilities; and manufacturing.
The MSAs with the largest unemployment rate increases were: Danville (+1 point to 5.9%), Kankakee (+0.9 point to 5.7%), Rockford (+0.9 point to 6.3%) and Lake County-Kenosha County IL-WI (+0.8 point to 4.6%). The only metro area with an unemployment rate decrease was the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (-1.0 percentage point to 4.3%).
Some of the Quad Cities and area unemployment figures include:
- In the Quad Cities, the jobless rate for June was 4.3%, compared to 3.7% in 2022. The total jobs in the region were 187,000 this June, compared to 184,000 last year.
- In Peoria, the jobless rate was 5% this June, compared to 4.4% in 2022. The total jobs were 174,700 in June, up from 170,100 last year.
- In Rockford, the jobless rate was 6.3% compared to 5.4% a year ago. Total jobs were 147,400 compared to 146,900 last year.
- The statewide jobless rate for Illinois was 4.5% in June, compared to 4.8% last year. The total new jobs across the state were 6.19 million compared to 6.09 million in June of 2022.
