Jobs up in most metro areas in September
Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs increased in eleven metropolitan areas and decreased in three for the year ending September 2023, according to data released on Oct. 26, 2023, 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 all fourteen metropolitan areas.
“The consistently expanding labor market and employment opportunities throughout the state continue to instill confidence and motivation into workers and jobseekers looking for their next employment opportunities,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “IDES and its workforce partners continue to provide critical employment and reemployment services to match individuals with the right employers to take advantage of the expanding labor market.”
The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Danville MSA (+3.7%, +1,000), the Elgin Metro Division (+2.5%, +6,500), and the Bloomington MSA (+1.6%, +1,600). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago Metropolitan Division were up +1.4% or +51,200. Total nonfarm jobs were down in the Kankakee MSA (-0.7%, -300), the Rockford MSA (-0.7%, -1,000), and the Decatur MSA (-0.6%, -300). Industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included: Education and Health Services (thirteen areas); Leisure and Hospitality and Government (twelve areas each); and Other Services (nine areas).
The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate increases were the Rockford MSA (+2.1 points to 6.9%), the Danville MSA (+1.9 points to 6.3%), and the Decatur MSA (+1.9 points to 6.7%). The Chicago Metro Division unemployment rate increased +0.1 point to 4.7%.
Southern Illinois Highlights
Carbondale – Marion Area
The September 2023 unemployment rate was 5.0 percent. This was a +1.3 percentage point increase from the September 2022 rate of 3.7 percent. Total nonfarm employment increased by +400 jobs in September 2023 compared to September a year ago. Government payrolls increased over-the-year (+200).
Surrounding Counties
Total nonfarm payrolls increased by +325 jobs in September 2023 compared to a year ago.
Employment rose in Leisure and Hospitality (+225), Government (+200), Educational and Health Services (+100), Manufacturing (+25), Construction (+25) and Financial Activities (+25).
No change in employment was reported in the Information, Natural Resources and Mining or Other Services industries.
Payrolls declined in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-200) and Professional and Business Services (-50).
Harrisburg Area
Total nonfarm employment increased by +300 jobs in September 2023 compared to September 2022.
Employment gains were posted in Government (+175), Financial Activities (+50), Educational and Health Services (+50), Natural Resources and Mining (+50), Information (+50) and Other Services (+25).
No change was recorded in Leisure and Hospitality, Trade, Transportation, and Utilities or Manufacturing payrolls.
Employment declined over-the-year in Construction (-50) and Professional and Business Services (-25).
Olney – Mt. Carmel Area
Total nonfarm employment increased by +325 jobs in September 2023 compared to September 2022.
Payrolls increased in Government (+200), Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+125), Leisure and Hospitality (+50), Educational and Health Services (+50), Professional and Business Services (+50), Other Services (+25), and Information (+25).
Payrolls were unchanged in Financial Activities and Natural Resources and Mining over-the-year. Payroll employment decreased in the Manufacturing (-125) and Construction (-25) industries.
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.
