The Quad Cities was among a handful of metropolitan statistical areas to record job losses during the fiscal year ending August 2024, according to figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES).
The Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA also was among the four areas of the state to record unemployment rate increases over that same period. The year-over-year jobless rate here increased -0.5 percentage points to 4.9%.
In all, over-the-year nonfarm jobs increased in eight metropolitan areas. They decreased in five. And were unchanged in one for the year ending August 2024, the IDES news release said. The over-the-year unemployment rate for that same period also decreased in nine MSAs, increased in four (including the Quad Cities) and was unchanged in one.
“Stable, consistent job growth across the state continues to position jobseekers and employers to leverage new and developing opportunities,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar in a news release. “IDES and its essential workforce partners are working throughout the state to offer critical employment services to enthusiastic jobseekers.”
The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Champaign-Urbana MSA, +4.7%, +5,400 jobs; the Carbondale-Marion MSA, +1.6%, +900 jobs; the Bloomington MSA. +0.7%, +700 jobs, and the Illinois section of the St. Louis MSA, +0.7%, +1,600 jobs.
Top non-farm job losers
The metro areas which posted the largest over-the-year decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Quad Cities, -1.4%, -2,600 jobs; the Elgin Metro Division, -0.9%, -2,300 jobs; and the Peoria MSA -0.6%, -1,100 jobs. Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division and the Decatur MSA were largely unchanged in total nonfarm jobs.
The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were Rockford MSA, -1.0 percentage point to 6.0%; and Decatur MSA, 0.5 percentage point to 6.3%.
The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate increases were Chicago Metro Division, +0.7 percentage point to 5.7%; Quad Cities, +0.5 point to 4.9%; and Bloomington MSA at +0.2 percentage point to 4.8%. There was no unemployment rate change in the Carbondale-Marion MSA.
In the Quad Cities total nonfarm employment decreased -2,600 in August 2024 compared to August 2023.
Payroll gains in the region included: Private Education-Health Services, +500; Government, +500; Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities, +400; Mining-Construction, +300; and Other Services, +200. The Quad Cities MSA’s over the year non-farm job declines included Professional-Business Services, -3,100; Leisure-Hospitality, -800; Manufacturing, -300; Retail Trade, -100; Information, -100; and Wholesale Trade, -100.
Region records losses
In addition, the August 2023 unemployment rates for local counties and areas compared to the August 2024 rate as reported by IDES include:
- Henry County 5.1%, up 0.2% to 5.3%.
- Mercer County 4.4%, up 0.7% to 5.1%.
- Rock Island County, 5.1%, up 0.7% to 5.8%.
- Moline 4.9% up 1.1% to 6.0%.
- Rock Island 5.3%, up 0.7% to 6%.
- Galesburg 6.6%, down 0.6% to 6%
The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. A person who exhausts benefits, or is ineligible, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.
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.
