Press Release - Friday, January 20, 2012
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Unemployment Drops; State Adds 52,600 Jobs in 2011
CHICAGO – The December unemployment rate fell to 9.8 percent and the state shed 4,100 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 is seasonally adjusted. The unemployment rate averaged 9.4 percent in 2011, down 0.9 percentage points from 2010.
“Illinois’ economy continues to take positive steps forward despite the pressures of an uneven national recovery,” IDES Director Jay Rowell said. “Illinois has recorded job growth in seven of 12 months. We have averaged 4,400 new jobs each month in 2011. Monthly snapshots are just that, but looking at long-term trends reveals the path we are taking. Our long-term growth trajectory shows Illinois’ economy moving forward and in the right direction.”
Illinois added +52,600 jobs in 2011 and +95,900 jobs since January 2010 when job growth returned to Illinois after 23 consecutive months of declines. Since January 2010, leading growth sectors in Illinois are Professional and Business Services (+49,600); Educational and Health Services (+38,900); Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+20,300); and Manufacturing (+19,400). Government has lost the most jobs since January 2010, down -13,400.
In December 2011, unemployed individuals decreased for the second consecutive month, down 13,100 (-2.0 percent) to 647,300. Total unemployed has declined -92,800 (-12.5 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
|
|
December
2011 |
November
2011 |
December
2010 |
3-Month
Moving Avg. |
|
Illinois
|
9.8%
|
10.0%
|
9.2%*
|
9.9%
|
|
U.S.
|
8.5%
|
8.7%
|
9.4%*
|
8.7%
|
|
* Revised
|
||||
Illinois Seasonally Adjusted Non-farm Jobs – by Major Industry
Industry Title
December
2011*
November
2011**
December
2010**
Over the Month Change
Over the Year
Change
3-Month
Moving Avg.
Change from
Previous
3-Month
Mov. Avg.
Total Nonfarm
5,676,400
5,680,500
5,623,800
-4,100
52,600
5,680,800
5,900
Mining
9,300
9,300
9,500
0
-200
9,300
-100
Construction
194,900
199,200
191,500
-4,300
3,400
198,400
-2,100
Manufacturing
572,600
570,400
560,400
2,200
12,200
571,500
1,000
Trade, Transportation, & Utilities
1,139,100
1,140,400
1,124,600
-1,300
14,500
1,140,600
700
Information
96,900
97,000
100,600
-100
-3,700
97,100
400
Financial Activities
354,900
356,500
358,000
-1,600
-3,100
356,500
-300
Professional and Business Services
829,900
830,900
809,500
-1,000
20,400
830,400
3,500
Educational and Health Services
860,600
859,800
843,900
800
16,700
860,000
1,900
Leisure and Hospitality
522,900
523,300
519,600
-400
3,300
522,600
1,300
Other Services
252,300
251,100
254,300
1,200
-2,000
251,700
-500
Government
843,000
842,600
851,900
400
-8,900
842,600
0
* 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.
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