Jobs up in mosts metro areas, unemployment rates mixed in April

The unemployment rate increased in six metropolitan areas, decreased in five, and was unchanged in three for the year ending April 2023, according to data released on May 25, 2023, by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES). Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs increased in thirteen metropolitan areas and was unchanged in one.

“Today’s data provides further evidence that stable and consistent job growth continues to expand in metro areas and industry sectors throughout the state,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “As new jobs are created, new opportunities become available for those looking to reenter the workforce or shift to another career field.”

The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Champaign-Urbana MSA (+2.7%, +3,200), the Peoria MSA (+2.4%, +4,100), and the Elgin Metro (+2.4%, +6,200). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago Metro Division were up +1.6% or +59,800. The Carbondale-Marion MSA saw no change in total nonfarm jobs. Industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included: Education and Health Services (thirteen areas); Leisure and Hospitality, Other Services and Government (twelve areas each); Manufacturing, Wholesale Trade and Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (nine areas each); and Mining and Construction (eight areas).

The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate increases were the Lake-Kenosha County IL-WI Metro (+0.3 point to 4.3%), followed by the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (+0.2 point to 3.5%), the Kankakee MSA (+0.2 point to 5.4%) and the Rockford MSA (+0.2 point to 6.2%). The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were the Chicago Metro Division (-1.1 percentage points to 3.2%), a record low unemployment rate for the month of April, followed by the Springfield MSA (-0.4 point to 3.7%) and the Carbondale-Marion MSA (-0.2 point to 3.9%). The unemployment rate was unchanged in the Bloomington MSA (3.4%), the Champaign-Urbana MSA (3.6%) and the Peoria MSA (4.5%).

 

Southern Illinois Highlights

Carbondale – Marion Area

The April 2023 unemployment rate was 3.9 percent. This was a decrease of -0.2 percentage point from the April 2022 rate of 4.1 percent. Total nonfarm employment in April 2023 was unchanged compared to April a year ago. Government payrolls increased over-the-year (+200).

Surrounding Counties

Total nonfarm payrolls increased by +300 jobs in April 2023 compared to a year ago.

Employment gains were posted in Government (+250), Construction (+125), Educational and Health Services (+75), Leisure and Hospitality (+75), Manufacturing (+50), and Natural Resources and Mining (+25).

No change was reported in Other Services and Information.

April payrolls declined in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-275), Professional and Business Services (-50), and Financial Activities (-25).

Harrisburg Area

Total nonfarm employment increased by +725 jobs in April 2023 compared to April 2022.

Employment gains were posted in Government (+350), Educational and Health Services (+150), Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+125), Information (+50), Natural Resources and Mining (+50), Construction (+25), and Manufacturing (+25).

Other Services and Financial Activities payrolls were unchanged in April 2023.

Employment declined over-the-year in Professional and Business Services (-75) and Leisure and Hospitality (-25).

Olney – Mt. Carmel Area

Total nonfarm employment increased by +475 jobs in April 2023 compared to April 2022.

Payrolls increased in Government (+325), Educational and Health Services (+75), Other Services (+50), Leisure and Hospitality (+25), and Information (+25).

Professional and Business Services, Natural Resources and Mining, Construction, and Financial Activities payrolls were unchanged.

Payrolls decreased in Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-25) and Manufacturing (-25).

 

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.

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 (January 2023 data compared to January 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.