For Immediate Release – March 18, 2021
Unemployment Rates Up, Jobs Down in January for All State Metro Areas
SPRINGFIELD – The number of nonfarm jobs decreased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in January, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). The unemployment rate increased over-the-year in all metro areas. The official, BLS approved sub-state unemployment rate and nonfarm jobs series begins in 1990. Data reported prior to 1990 are not directly comparable due to updates in methodology.
“The Pritzker administration remains steadfast in providing support and services to individuals impacted by this pandemic more than a year later,” said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. “As IDES works to rollout the new extensions provided in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to ensure eligible claimants have access to benefits, they will continue to provide job-matching resources to individuals as the economy works to recover statewide.”
The number of nonfarm jobs decreased in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas. The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Kankakee MSA (-9.8%, -4,500), the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (-9.1%, -342,700) and the Elgin Metropolitan Division (-8.4%, -21,400). Three metro areas recorded their lowest total nonfarm jobs for the month of January on record (dating back to 1990).
Over-the-year, the unemployment rate increased in all 14 metropolitan areas; the metro areas with the largest unemployment rate increases were the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (+5.3 points to 9.1%), the Decatur MSA (+5.1 points to 9.9%) and the Springfield MSA (+3.9 points to 7.6%). The not seasonally adjusted Illinois unemployment rate was 8.5 percent in January 2021. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.8 percent in January 2021.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
| Metropolitan Area | January 2021* | January 2020** | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 6.3% | 3.2% | 3.1 |
| Carbondale-Marion | 6.9% | 3.7% | 3.2 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 6.3% | 3.1% | 3.2 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 9.1% | 3.8% | 5.3 |
| Danville | 8.0% | 4.6% | 3.4 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 6.8% | 4.6% | 2.2 |
| Decatur | 9.9% | 4.8% | 5.1 |
| Elgin | 8.2% | 4.5% | 3.7 |
| Kankakee | 8.7% | 5.1% | 3.6 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 7.1% | 4.1% | 3.0 |
| Peoria | 8.2% | 4.7% | 3.5 |
| Rockford | 11.1% | 7.6% | 3.5 |
| Springfield | 7.6% | 3.7% | 3.9 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) | 6.6% | 3.6% | 3.0 |
| Illinois Statewide | 8.5% | 4.0% | 4.5 |
| * Preliminary I ** Revised |
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) –January 2021
| Metropolitan Area | January 2021* | January 2020** | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington MSA | 84,700 | 91,000 | -6,300 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 53,100 | 56,400 | -3,300 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 107,800 | 116,600 | -8,800 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,413,300 | 3,756,000 | -342,700 |
| Danville MSA | 25,900 | 26,700 | -800 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 171,400 | 182,900 | -11,500 |
| Decatur MSA | 45,800 | 49,500 | -3,700 |
| Elgin Metro Division | 232,900 | 254,300 | -21,400 |
| Kankakee MSA | 41,200 | 45,700 | -4,500 |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 387,200 | 412,300 | -25,100 |
| Peoria MSA | 155,600 | 167,500 | -11,900 |
| Rockford MSA | 135,900 | 147,300 | -11,400 |
| Springfield MSA | 98,600 | 107,000 | -8,400 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 224,200 | 236,500 | -12,300 |
| Illinois Statewide | 5,532,000 | 6,032,500 | -500,500 |
| *Preliminary | **Revised |
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
| Labor Market Area | Jan 2021 | Jan 2020 | Over the Year Change | ||
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | |||||
| Champaign County | 6.4 % | 3.0 % | 3.4 | ||
| Ford County | 6.4 % | 4.2 % | 2.2 | ||
| Piatt County | 5.6 % | 3.2 % | 2.4 | ||
| Danville MSA | |||||
| Vermilion | 8.0 % | 4.6 % | 3.4 | ||
| Cities | |||||
| Champaign City | 6.5 % | 2.9 % | 3.6 | ||
| Urbana City | 5.9 % | 3.0 % | 2.9 | ||
| Danville City | 9.4 % | 4.6 % | 4.8 | ||
| Counties | |||||
| Clark County | 6.9 % | 4.4 % | 2.5 | ||
| Coles County | 6.6 % | 3.3 % | 3.3 | ||
| Cook County | 9.8 % | 3.8 % | 6.0 | ||
| De Witt County | 7.0 % | 3.9 % | 3.1 | ||
| Douglas County | 4.8 % | 3.0 % | 1.8 | ||
| Edgar County | 5.0 % | 3.7 % | 1.3 | ||
| Iroquois County | 6.7 % | 4.8 % | 1.9 | ||
| McLean County | 6.3 % | 3.1 % | 3.2 | ||
| Macon County | 9.9 % | 4.8 % | 5.1 | ||
| Moultrie County | 5.0 % | 2.9 % | 2.1 | ||
| Sangamon County | 7.7 % | 3.7 % | 4.0 | ||
| Shelby County | 5.7 % | 3.9 % | 1.8 | ||
| Other Areas | |||||
| LWIA 17 | 6.3 % | 3.3 % | 3.0 | ||
| LWIA 18 | 8.0 % | 4.6 % | 3.4 | ||
| East Central EDR | 6.6 % | 3.5 % | 3.1 |
East Central Illinois Highlights
Champaign-Urbana MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 6.3 percent in January 2021 from 3.1 percent in January 2020. The last time the January rate was equal to or higher was in 2014 when it was 6.9 percent.
Nonfarm employment decreased by -8,800 compared to last January.
Government (-5,400), Leisure-Hospitality (-2,100), Retail Trade (-1,000), and Manufacturing (-400) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago. The Professional-Business Services (+200), Construction (+100), Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+100), and Educational-Health Services (+100) sectors reported payroll gains.
Danville MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 8.0 percent in January 2021 from 4.6 percent in January 2020. The last time the January rate was equal to or higher was in 2016 when it was 8.2 percent.
Nonfarm employment decreased by -800 compared to last January.
The Government (-300), Educational-Health Services (-200), and Manufacturing (-200) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago. The Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+100) and Professional-Business Services (+100) sectors reported payroll gains.
Note: Monthly 2020 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2021, as required by the U.S. BLS. Comments and tables distributed for prior metro area news releases should be discarded as any records or historical analysis previously cited may no longer be valid. The official monthly unemployment rate series for metro areas, counties and most cities begins in 1990. The official monthly nonfarm jobs series for metro areas begins in 1990 and for non-metropolitan counties it begins in 1999.
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