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January Unemployment Rate at 9.0 Percent

Press Release - Thursday, March 07, 2013

CHICAGO – More people resuming their job search and entering the workforce pushed the January 2013 unemployment rate to 9.0 percent, 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. One year ago, the rate was 9.1 percent. Employers added 7,100 jobs in January 2013.

“An economic recovery naturally includes monthly up-and-down movement in the unemployment rate as individuals suspend and renew their job search,” IDES Director Jay Rowell said. “As cuts from sequestration are implemented during the next few months, we will have a better idea on how federal fiscal policy will impact Illinois.”

Illinois added +222,100 private sector jobs since January 2010 when job growth returned following nearly two years of consecutive monthly declines. Leading growth sectors are Professional and Business Services (+87,600); Education and Health Services (+55,800); and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+43,000). Government has lost the most jobs since January 2010, down -26,300.

In January 2013, the number of unemployed individuals increased +22,900 (+4.0 percent) to 594,800. Total unemployed has fallen -157,400 (-20.9 percent) since early 2010 when the state unemployment rate peaked at 11.3 percent for the months of January and February.

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. Historically, the national unemployment rate is lower than the state rate. The state rate has been lower than the national rate only six times since January 2000.

Please note that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics requires revisions to monthly employment and labor force data. The revisions occur each February and March based upon updated Census, unemployment insurance and seasonal data. Data and analysis distributed prior to March 1, 2013 should be discarded.

January local data will be released March 14. February statewide data will be released March 21. February local data will be released March 28. March statewide data will be released April 18.

More than 100,000 help-wanted ads are on Illinoisjoblink.com, the IDES employment website that links job seekers with employers. The keyword matching technology increases the likelihood of a successful new hire and compares favorably to private efforts that cost hundreds of dollars for a single advertisement. No-cost HR recruitment services are available at the website and at (877) 342-7533.

Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

 
January
2013
December
2012
January
2012
3-Month
Moving Avg.
Illinois
9.0%
8.6%*
9.1%*
8.8%
U.S.
7.9%
7.8%*
8.3%*
7.8%
* Revised

Illinois Seasonally Adjusted Non-farm Jobs – by Major Industry

Industry Title
January
2013*
December
2012**
January
2012**
Over the Month Change
Over the Year
Change
3-Month
Moving Avg.
Change from
Previous
3-Month
Mov. Avg.
Total Nonfarm     
5,780,000
5,772,900
5,717,300
7,100
62,700
5,777,000
3,800
Mining
10,400
10,300
10,100
100
300
10,300
0
Construction     
185,000
183,300
194,800
1,700
-9,800
184,000
-700
Manufacturing    
583,600
582,300
577,900
1,300
5,700
584,100
-600
Trade, Transportation, & Utilities
1,163,900
1,169,400
1,150,800
-5,500
13,100
1,166,700
1,200
Information      
99,600
99,700
100,400
-100
-800
99,500
0
Financial Activities
370,800
368,600
364,100
2,200
6,700
369,300
800
Professional and Business Services
868,500
868,000
849,800
500
18,700
869,300
200
Educational and Health Services
877,300
871,800
856,500
5,500
20,800
873,500
2,400
Leisure and Hospitality
538,600
537,700
530,400
900
8,200
537,900
600
Other Services   
252,300
250,300
250,100
2,000
2,200
251,100
600
Government        
830,000
831,500
832,400
-1,500
-2,400
831,200
-800
 
                              * Preliminary                    ** Revised
 

Notes:


• Illinois monthly labor force, unemployed and unemployment rates for years 2008-2012 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 sum-of-states controls, 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://www.ides.illinois.gov/Custom/Library/Statistic/CES/I_NSA_CES_Illinois_MSAs_Jobs_2000_to_Current.XLS .
• “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://www.ides.illinois.gov/page.aspx?item=2509 .


 

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