National Slowdown Impacts Illinois’ Economy

Illinois

Adds +1,600 Jobs in September; Rate Ticks to 10 Percent

    CHICAGO – The September seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Illinois ticked up to 10 percent despite the addition of +1,600 new jobs, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). The data support the conclusions by most private economists that the recovery from the national recession continues, although at a slower pace than earlier this year.
“Consumer confidence drives the national economy and affects our economic growth here in Illinois, so these are not surprising figures,” IDES Director Jay Rowell said. “Job growth at this stage in the economic cycle often is accompanied by a slight increase in the unemployment rate. But a broader confidence must be restored at the national level before individual states will show greater wide-spread growth.”

Illinois has added +37,700 jobs so far this year and +81,000 jobs since January 2010 when job growth returned to Illinois after 23 consecutive months of declines. Since January 2010, leading growth sectors are Professional and Business Services (+40,200); Educational and Health Services (+32,700); Manufacturing (+17,500); and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+16,800). Compared to September 2010, employment in Illinois is up +44,400 led by Educational and Health Services (+20,200); Professional and Business Services (+14,000); and Manufacturing (+11,300).

In September 2011, unemployed individuals increased +10,500 (1.6 percent) to 663,300 compared to August. Total unemployed has declined -76,800 (-10.4 percent) since January 2010 when the state unemployment rate peaked at 11.2 percent. 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.
The IDES supports economic stability by administering unemployment benefits, collecting business contributions to fund those benefits, connecting employers with qualified job seekers, and providing economic information to assist career planning and economic development. It does so through nearly 60 offices, including Illinois workNet centers.    
 

Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

 

September
2011

August
2011

September
2010

3-Month
Moving Avg.

Illinois

10.0%

9.9%

9.8%*

9.8%

U.S.

9.1%

9.1%

9.6%*

9.1%

*  Revised

 

Illinois Seasonally Adjusted Non-farm Jobs – by Major Industry

 

Industry Title

September
2011*

August
2011**

September
2010**

Over the Month Change

Over the Year
Change

3-Month
Moving Avg.

Change from
Previous
3-Month
Mov. Avg.

Total Non-farm

5,661,500

5,659,900

5,617,100

1,600

44,400

5,659,500

-5,300

Mining

9,500

9,500

9,300

0

200

9,500

0

Construction

202,200

205,200

194,800

-3,000

7,400

204,100

-1,900

Manufacturing

570,700

570,500

559,400

200

11,300

571,700

-500

Trade, Transportation, & Utilities

1,135,600

1,134,900

1,127,300

700

8,300

1,135,300

-2,400

Information

96,100

97,300

100,400

-1,200

-4,300

97,000

-500

Financial Activities

355,400

357,200

359,600

-1,800

-4,200

356,600

-100

Professional and Business Services

820,500

819,300

806,500

1,200

14,000

818,200

1,600

Educational and Health Services

854,400

849,500

834,200

4,900

20,200

850,500

3,000

Leisure and Hospitality

519,700

519,100

514,800

600

4,900

518,700

-1,200

Other Services

254,000

254,000

254,200

0

-200

253,500

-900

Government

843,400

843,400

856,600

0

-13,200

844,300

-2,800

 

                              * Preliminary                    ** Revised

 

 

 

 

 

Notes:

 

·          Illinois monthly labor force, unemployed and unemployment rates for years 2006-2010 have been revised as required by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In February of each year, monthly labor force data for all states are revised to reflect updated Census population controls, seasonal factors, non-farm jobs and unemployment insurance claims inputs. Data were also smoothed to eliminate large monthly changes as a result of volatility in the monthly household (CPS) survey. Comments and tables distributed in prior Illinois unemployment rate news release materials should be discarded because any analysis, including records, previously cited might no longer be valid.

·          Seasonally adjusted employment data for subsectors within industries are not available.  For not seasonally adjusted jobs data with greater industry detail, go to http://lmi.ides.state.il.us/cesfiles/cescurrent.htm.

·          “Other Services” includes a wide range of activities in three broad categories: Personal and laundry; repair and maintenance; and religious, grant making, civic and professional organizations.

·          Monthly seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for Illinois and the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet Metropolitan Division are available at:  http://lmi.ides.state.il.us/laus/icmaur.htm.