Total nonfarm jobs increased over the year in December in eight of Illinois’ 14 metropolitan statistical areas, including the Quad Cities, a new unemployment report shows.
In its news release issued Thursday, Jan. 25, the Illinois Department of Employment Security and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA saw its unemployment rate increase in December to 3.9%, up from 3.6% a year earlier. Nonfarm jobs increased in the local region by 1,000 jobs to 185,300 compared to the same month last year.
The Quad Cities MSA had the largest payroll gains in these sectors: Government, up 2,600 jobs, and Leisure-Hospitality, up 1,200 jobs. These local sectors showed declines in employment: Professional-Business Services, down 2,800 jobs; Retail Trade, -600 jobs; and the Financial Activities, Information and Manufacturing sectors each declined 100 jobs.
Statewide, nonfarm jobs increased in eight MSAs, decreased in five MSAs, and was unchanged in one, Peoria, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and IDES. Over-the-year, the unemployment rate increased in 13 MSAs and decreased in one, Arlington Heights.
“We are pleased to see continued positive economic trends across Illinois,” Deputy Gov. Andy Manar said in the IDES release. “IDES remains committed to sustaining a viable workforce ecosystem in which jobseekers and employers remain engaged and connected.”
The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate increases were: Rockford (+1.3 percentage points to 5.9%); Decatur (+1.2 points to 5.7%) and Kankakee (+1.2 points to 5.9%). Unemployment fell 0.3 point to 3.9% in Chicago.
The Illinois unemployment rate statewide was 4.2% in December, an increase of 0.2 point.
Others unemployment rates in December across the Quad Cities region included:
- Rock Island County, 4.7%, up from 3.8% in December 2022.
- Henry County, 4.7%, up from 3.8%.
- Mercer County, 4.3%, up from 3.9%.
- Moline, 4.5%, up from 3.8%.
- Rock Island, 4.9%, up from 3.9%.
The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. A person who exhausts benefits, or is ineligible, still is reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.
