For Immediate Release – August 24, 2023
Jobs Up in Most Metro Areas in July
SPRINGFIELD – Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs increased in thirteen metropolitan areas and decreased in one for the year ending July 2023, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES). Over-the-year, the unemployment rate increased in thirteen metropolitan areas and decreased in one.
“We’re encouraged to see continued and consecutive job growth across the state, giving Illinois workers the ability to take advantage of expanded labor market opportunities,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “IDES continues to collaborate with its workforce partners, providing vital resources to bridge jobseekers with employers.”
The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Danville MSA (+2.6%, +700), the Elgin Metro Division (+2.4%, +6,200), the Champaign-Urbana MSA (+2.1%, +2,400), and the Springfield MSA (+2.1%, +2,300). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Metro Division were up +1.3% or +50,900. Total nonfarm jobs were down slightly in the Kankakee MSA (-0.5%, -200). Industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included: Leisure and Hospitality (twelve areas); Education and Health Services and Government (eleven areas each).
The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate increases were the Danville MSA (+1.7 points to 6.6%), the Rockford MSA (+1.6 points to 6.8%), the Decatur MSA (+1.4 points to 6.9%), and the Kankakee MSA (+1.4 points to 6.1%). The only metro area with an unemployment rate decrease was the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division (-1.1 percentage points to 4.0%). The Chicago Metro Division unemployment rate tied 2019 for a record low in the month of July.
Unemployment Rates (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
| Metropolitan Area | July 2023* | July 2022** | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 4.6% | 3.7% | 0.9 |
| Carbondale-Marion | 5.1% | 4.2% | 0.9 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 5.0% | 4.0% | 1.0 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 4.0% | 5.1% | -1.1 |
| Danville | 6.6% | 4.9% | 1.7 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 4.4% | 3.7% | 0.7 |
| Decatur | 6.9% | 5.5% | 1.4 |
| Elgin | 5.3% | 4.1% | 1.2 |
| Kankakee | 6.1% | 4.7% | 1.4 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 4.9% | 3.7% | 1.2 |
| Peoria | 5.5% | 4.3% | 1.2 |
| Rockford | 6.8% | 5.2% | 1.6 |
| Springfield | 4.8% | 4.0% | 0.8 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) | 4.9% | 3.9% | 1.0 |
| Illinois Statewide | 4.5% | 4.7% | -0.2 |
| * Preliminary I ** Revised |
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
| Metropolitan Area | July | July | Over-the-Year |
| 2023* | 2022** | Change | |
| Bloomington MSA | 96,100 | 94,600 | 1,500 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 57,500 | 56,900 | 600 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 116,000 | 113,600 | 2,400 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,850,500 | 3,799,600 | 50,900 |
| Danville MSA | 27,600 | 26,900 | 700 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 184,700 | 182,900 | 1,800 |
| Decatur MSA | 48,300 | 47,900 | 400 |
| Elgin Metro Division | 266,000 | 259,800 | 6,200 |
| Kankakee MSA | 42,700 | 42,900 | -200 |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 426,800 | 423,600 | 3,200 |
| Peoria MSA | 172,100 | 169,100 | 3,000 |
| Rockford MSA | 147,100 | 147,000 | 100 |
| Springfield MSA | 109,500 | 107,200 | 2,300 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 237,200 | 236,000 | 1,200 |
| Illinois Statewide | 6,171,600 | 6,073,000 | 98,600 |
| *Preliminary | **Revised |
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
| Labor Market Area | Jul 2023 | Jul 2022 | Over the Year Change | ||
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | |||||
| Champaign County | 5.0 % | 4.0 % | 1.0 | ||
| Ford County | 5.3 % | 4.2 % | 1.1 | ||
| Piatt County | 4.5 % | 3.5 % | 1.0 | ||
| Danville MSA | |||||
| Vermilion County | 6.6 % | 4.9 % | 1.7 | ||
| Cities | |||||
| Champaign City | 5.1 % | 4.0 % | 1.1 | ||
| Urbana City | 5.4 % | 4.4 % | 1.0 | ||
| Danville City | 8.0 % | 5.8 % | 2.2 | ||
| Counties | |||||
| Clark County | 5.2 % | 3.9 % | 1.3 | ||
| Coles County | 5.6 % | 4.6 % | 1.0 | ||
| Cook County | 4.2 % | 5.4 % | -1.2 | ||
| De Witt County | 4.7 % | 3.8 % | 0.9 | ||
| Douglas County | 4.4 % | 3.3 % | 1.1 | ||
| Edgar County | 4.2 % | 3.6 % | 0.6 | ||
| Iroquois County | 5.0 % | 4.0 % | 1.0 | ||
| McLean County | 4.6 % | 3.7 % | 0.9 | ||
| Macon County | 6.9 % | 5.5 % | 1.4 | ||
| Moultrie County | 4.0 % | 3.3 % | 0.7 | ||
| Sangamon County | 4.9 % | 4.0 % | 0.9 | ||
| Shelby County | 5.0 % | 4.0 % | 1.0 | ||
| Other Areas | |||||
| LWIA 17 | 4.9 % | 3.9 % | 1.0 | ||
| LWIA 18 | 6.6 % | 4.9 % | 1.7 | ||
| East Central EDR | 5.2 % | 4.1 % | 1.1 | ||
East Central Illinois Highlights
Champaign-Urbana MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 5.0 percent in July 2023 from 4.0 percent in July 2022.
Nonfarm employment increased by +2,400 compared to last July.
Government (+1,400), Leisure-Hospitality (+1,100), Educational-Health Services (+600), and Other Services (+100) had payroll gains over the year. The Professional-Business Services (-500), Retail Trade (-100), Information (-100) and Manufacturing (-100) sectors had employment declines from a year ago.
Danville MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 6.6 percent in July 2023 from 4.9 percent in July 2022.
Nonfarm employment increased by +700 compared to last July.
Leisure-Hospitality (+600) and Government (+200) had payroll gains over the year. The Professional-Business Services (-100) sector had employment declines from a year ago.
Note: Monthly 2022 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2023, 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.
Disclaimer: The data contained in the metro area employment numbers press releases are not seasonally adjusted, and therefore are subject to seasonal fluctuations due to factors such as changes in weather, harvests, major holidays, and school schedules. Current monthly metro data should be compared to the same month from prior years (February 2023 data compared to February 2022 data) as data for these months have similar seasonal patterns. Comparisons should not be made to data for the immediate previous month or other previous non-matching months, as any changes in the data within these time periods may be the result of seasonal fluctuations and not economic factors.
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