Staff Report

The Rockford metropolitan area’s unemployment rate climbed from 10.4 percent in May to 11.5 percent in June, according to preliminary data released July 26 by the U.S. Department of Employment Security (IDES). The rate is the highest among the state’s 12 metropolitan areas.

Statewide, the June local unemployment rate fell in five metro areas, increased in one and essentially was unchanged in six compared to last year, according to the IDES.

The not seasonally adjusted (NSA) data compares June 2012 to June 2011. The largest declines were in: Chicago-Joliet-Naperville (minus 1.5 points to 9.4 percent), Kankakee-Bradley (minus 0.9 point to 11.2 percent), Rockford (minus 0.9 point to 11.5 percent) and Peoria (minus 0.8 point to 7.9 percent). The state rate has dropped every month this year and is at 8.7 percent. The nationwide unemployment rate in June was 8.2 percent.

Payrolls increased in six metros and fell in six. The largest increases: Peoria (plus 2.5 percent, plus 4,500 jobs), Kankakee-Bradley (plus 1.6 percent, plus 700 jobs) and Rockford (plus 1.6 percent, plus 2,400). Chicago-Joliet-Naperville also added jobs (plus 0.9 percent, plus 32,600 jobs).

Sectors increasing in the most metros were Manufacturing (10 of 12), Professional/Business Services (seven of 12) and Educational/Health Services (seven of 12).

“Manufacturing and other private-sector job growth continues to push our economy through an uneven recovery,” IDES Director Jay Rowell said. “This steady progress is encouraging even as we remain guarded on how world economic events in Europe, China and elsewhere will be felt here at home.”

NSA data compares the current month to the same month of the previous year. The June 2012 NSA Illinois unemployment rate was 9.3 percent and 12.3 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 8.2 percent in June and 10.6 percent in January 2010 at its peak. The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and looking for work and is not tied to collecting unemployment insurance benefits. Historically, the national unemployment rate is lower than the state rate.

Following are the unemployment rates per metropolitan area, listed from highest to lowest:

1. Rockford — 11.5 percent (12.4 percent in June 2011, an increase of 2,400 jobs)

2. Kankakee-Bradley — 11.2 percent (12.1 percent in June 2011, an increase of 700 jobs)

3. Decatur — 11 percent (10.5 percent in June 2011, a decrease of 900 jobs)

4. Danville — 10.5 percent (10.6 percent in June 2011, a decrease of 1,200 jobs)

5. Chicago-Joliet-Naperville — 9.4 percent (10.9 percent in June 2011, an increase of 32,600 jobs)

6. Champaign-Urbana — 9.1 percent (9.1 percent in June 2011, a decrease of 1,300 jobs)

7. St. Louis (Illinois section) — 9 percent (9.1 percent in June 2011, a decrease of 5,200 jobs)

8. Lake-Kenosha (Illinois-Wisconsin) — 8.7 percent (9.2 percent in June 2011, an increase of 2,000 jobs)

9. Peoria — 7.9 percent (8.7 percent in June 2011, an increase of 4,500 jobs)

10. Springfield — 7.7 percent (7.6 percent in June 2011, a decrease of 600 jobs)

11. Bloomington-Normal — 7.6 percent (7.5 percent in June 2011, an increase of 200 jobs)

12. Davenport-Moline-Rock Island — 7.3 percent (7.4 percent in June 2011, a decrease of 900 jobs)

From the Aug. 1-7, 2012, issue