The Quad Cities area recorded the largest unemployment rate increase in Illinois in November, climbing to 5% from the 3.7% revised jobless rate reported for November 2023, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) said.
Statewide, the 2024 preliminary unemployment rate in November stood at 4.8%. That’s +0.6 percentage points from the revised 4.2% jobless rate recorded in November of 2023. IDES said in a Friday, Dec. 27, news release. It was based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
In all, the over-the-year statewide total nonfarm jobs increased in seven metropolitan areas) according to data from IDES and the BLS.
In addition, the report said, unemployment rates in individual cities and counties in the Quad Cities’ Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) also rose in November 2024 compared to November 2023. Among them were:
- Henry County: 5.3%, up 1.1% from 4.2%.
- Mercer County: 4.9%, up 1% from 3.9%.
- Rock Island County: 5.7%, up 1.3% from 4.4%.
- Moline: 5.8%, up 1.5% from 4.3%.
- City of Rock Island: 5.9%, up 1.5% from 4.4%.
Total nonfarm jobs in the Quad Cities also decreased last month by -2,000 compared to November 2023, the report said.
The Quad Cities employment sectors recording job gains over the year in November were: Government, +900; Other Services, +400; Private Education-Health Services, +300; and Mining-Construction, +100.
Meanwhile, over-the-year losses came in these QC sectors. They were: Professional-Business Services, -2,200; Manufacturing, -600; Leisure-Hospitality, -400; Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities, -200; Financial Activities, -100; Wholesale Trade, -100; and Information, -100.
Statewide results mixed
Over-the-year statewide, the unemployment rate increased in seven MSAs, decreased in five, and was unchanged in two.
The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. Those who exhaust benefits, or are ineligible, will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.
The Monthly 2023 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2024, as required by the BLS.
Joining the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA, these areas also were among the Illinois MSAs with the largest November unemployment rate increases: Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division, up +1.0 percentage point to 5.0%, and the Danville MSA, up +0.6 percentage point to 5.9%.
The metro area with the largest unemployment rate decrease was the Rockford MSA, which was down 0.4 percentage point to 5.2%.
“As job growth reaches across the state, we remain committed to investing in the necessary tools and resources for the state’s strong economic landscape,” said Deputy Gov. Andy Manar. “IDES continues to assist in matching jobseekers with employers to ensure both are finding the right fit for their needs.”
The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Champaign-Urbana MSA, +1.7%, +2,200; the Carbondale-Marion MSA, +1.3%, +800; the Rockford MSA, +1.2%, +1,800; and the Springfield MSA, +1.2%, +1,300.
Sectors see losses
The metro areas which posted the largest over-the-year decreases in total nonfarm jobs were Danville MSA, -1.5%, -400, and the Peoria MSA, -1.2%, -2,100. Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago Metropolitan Division were down -0.2% or -6,700. Industries that saw job growth in most were: Private Education and Health Services (14 areas); Other Services (12 areas); and Government (11 areas).
An individual who exhausts or is ineligible for benefits is still reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work, IDES said. The agency helps connect jobseekers to employers who are hiring. That includes hosting and co-hosting job fairs and hiring events with statewide workforce partners. IDES also maintains the Illinois JobLink (IJL). It’s the state’s largest job-search engine.
IJL is a tool used by jobseekers to look for work. Employers use it to post open and available positions for hire and browse resumes. Recently, IJL showed 64,412 posted resumes with 73,689 jobs available.
Access resources available at Job Fairs, IllinoisJobLink.com, and WorkShare IL, Labor Market Information, and the Unemployment Insurance Program. To see the full range of services provided by IDES, and for the department’s latest news, visit IDES.Illinois.gov.
