December Unemployment Falls Again to 9.3 Percent

CHICAGO - The Illinois unemployment rate fell again in December even as more people felt encouraged about their job prospects and entered the labor force to look for work.

The seasonally adjusted rate fell for the ninth consecutive month, dropping -0.3 to 9.3 percent, according to preliminary estimates released today by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The last time the state rate was below 9.3 percent was March 2009. The national rate fell -0.4 to 9.4 percent. The last time Illinois remained below the national rate for two consecutive months was September 2006.
 
"It is encouraging that for nine consecutive months our state has recorded a drop in the unemployment rate even as more people have entered the job market," IDES Director Maureen O'Donnell said. "Preliminary data shows Illinois will close 2010 with a growing economy, which has not occurred since 2007."

The number of unemployed individuals was down for the ninth consecutive month, dropping -20,000 (-3.1 percent) to 620,600, the lowest level since March 2009. Total unemployed has declined -144,200 (-18.9 percent) since March 2010 when the state unemployment rate peaked at 11.5 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.

Revised industry data for November indicates a smaller contraction (-1,600) in total payroll. Slight up-and-down movement in preliminary and revised data is not uncommon. Preliminary data for December estimate a seasonally adjusted decrease of -9,400 non-farm payroll positions.

In December, Illinois had +46,300 more jobs than December 2009, the fourth consecutive monthly year-over-year increase. Illinois' economy continues to compare favorably to the national economy. Illinois' growth rate is 0.8 percent and the national growth rate is 0.9 percent. Job sectors leading Illinois' growth trend are Professional and Business Services (+13,600); Educational and Health Services (+13,800); Manufacturing (+9,100); and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+7,200). The labor force in December was up +21,300 (+0.3 percent) over November to reach 6,687,500. The labor force has increased for four consecutive months.

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

Illinois Seasonally Adjusted Nonfarm Jobs - by Major Industry

Notes:

• Illinois monthly labor force, unemployed and unemployment rates for years 1976-2009 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 and state supplied non-farm jobs and unemployment insurance claims inputs. Comments and tables distributed for prior Illinois unemployment rate news releases 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 .