Rockford metro area’s unemployment rate drops to 11 percent, still highest in state

Online Staff Report

The Rockford metropolitan area’s unemployment rate dropped to 11 percent in September as local unemployment rates fell in every metro area compared to last year, according to preliminary data released Oct. 25 by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).

The Rockford metro area’s unemployment rate dropped to 11 percent in September, down from 11.7 percent in August and 13.6 percent in September 2011, but still remains the highest among the state’s 12 metropolitan areas.

The largest declines from September 2011 throughout the state in September were in Rockford (down 2.6 points to 11 percent), Chicago-Joliet-Naperville (down 2.1 points to 8 percent) and Kankakee-Bradley (down 1.3 points to 10.5 percent). The state not seasonally adjusted rate has dropped every month this year.

Payrolls increased in seven metros and fell in five. The largest increases were in Rockford (plus 1.5 percent, plus 2,200 jobs), Kankakee-Bradley (plus 1.4 percent, plus 600 jobs) and Springfield (plus 1 percent, plus 1,100 jobs). Chicago-Joliet-Naperville also added jobs (plus 0.9 percent, plus 34,600 jobs).

Sectors increasing in the most metros were Manufacturing (11 of 12), Professional and Business Services (eight of 12) and Leisure and Hospitality (eight of 12).

“This month’s report highlights that we have made steady progress in lowering the unemployment rate, but more needs to be done,” IDES Director Jay Rowell said. “Hiring managers need to see consistent, long-term tax policy and spending priorities by the federal government before we will see stronger hiring increases.”

Not seasonally adjusted data compares the current month to the same month of the previous year. The September 2012 not seasonally adjusted Illinois unemployment rate was 8.1 percent and 12.3 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 7.6 percent in September 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.

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

1. Rockford — 11 percent (13.6 percent in September 2011, an increase of 2,200 jobs)

2. Kankakee-Bradley — 10.5 percent (11.8 percent in September 2011, an increase of 600 jobs)

3. Decatur — 10.2 percent (10.4 percent in September 2011, a decrease of 700 jobs)

4. Danville — 10 percent (10.6 percent in September 2011, a decrease of 600 jobs)

5. St. Louis (Illinois section) — 8.2 percent (9.4 percent in September 2011, a decrease of 2,400 jobs)

6. (tie) Chicago-Joliet-Naperville — 8 percent (10.1 percent in September 2011, an increase of 34,600 jobs)

Lake (Ill.)-Kenosha (Wis.) — 8 percent (8.9 percent in September 2011, an increase of 2,700 jobs)

8. Champaign-Urbana — 7.7 percent (8.6 percent in September 2011, a decrease of 100 jobs)

9. Peoria — 7.5 percent (8.7 percent in September 2011, an increase of 1,300 jobs)

10. Springfield — 7.3 percent (7.9 percent in September 2011, an increase of 1,100 jobs)

11. Bloomington-Normal — 6.7 percent (7.4 percent in September 2011, an increase of 300 jobs)

12. Davenport-Moline-Rock Island — 6.5 percent (7.3 percent in September 2011, a decrease of 800 jobs)

The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the national October unemployment report Friday, Nov. 2.

Posted Oct. 25, 2012

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