Rockford metro area’s unemployment rate 13 percent in January

Online Staff Report

The Rockford metro area’s unemployment rate rose to 13 percent in January, after dipping to 11.2 percent in December, according to data released March 14 by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).

Rockford saw a net year-over-year job increase of 2,800 between January 2012 and January 2013. The January 2012 unemployment rate was 13.2 percent.

January 2013 local unemployment rates increased in seven of 12 metro areas, decreased in three and were unchanged in two compared to last year. Largest increases were in Decatur MSA (plus 2.9 points to 14 percent), the Danville MSA (plus 0.9 point to 11.8 percent) and the Peoria MSA (plus 0.9 point to 10 percent). The Chicago-Joliet-Naperville Metropolitan Division rate was plus 0.4 point to 9.9 percent.

Jobs were added in six metro areas, declined in four and were unchanged in two. The largest increases were in Champaign-Urbana (plus 2.6 percent, plus 2,600 jobs), Rockford (plus 2 percent, plus 2,800 jobs) and Chicago-Joliet-Naperville (plus 1.6 percent, plus 56,700).

Industry sectors increasing in the most metro areas were Educational and Health Services (10 of 12), Financial Activities (eight of 12), Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (seven of 12), and Leisure and Hospitality (seven of 12).

“Increases in the unemployment rate and newly created jobs are expected each January,” said IDES Director Jay Rowell. “The new year encourages employers to hire and workers to re-energize their work search. We now need to better understand how the federal budget reductions through sequestration will pressure the economy, especially consumer confidence and hiring efforts.”

The January 2013 not seasonally adjusted Illinois unemployment rate was 10.1 percent and 12.2 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 8.5 percent in January 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 for January per metropolitan area, listed from highest to lowest:

1. Decatur — 14 percent (11.1 percent in January 2012, a decrease of 1,900 jobs

2. Rockford — 13 percent (13.2 percent in January 2012, an increase of 2,800 jobs)

3. Kankakee-Bradley — 12.8 percent (12.8 percent in January 2012, no change)

4. Danville — 11.8 percent (10.9 percent in January 2012, a decrease of 100 jobs)

5. St. Louis (Illinois section) — 10.3 percent (10.3 percent in January 2012, a decrease of 2,400 jobs)

6. Lake (Ill.)-Kenosha (Wis.) — 10.2 percent (10.1 percent in January 2012, no change)

7. Peoria — 10 percent (9.1 percent in January 2012, an increase of 800 jobs)

8. Chicago-Joliet-Naperville — 9.9 percent (9.5 percent in January 2012, an increase of 56,700 jobs)

9. Champaign-Urbana — 9.1 percent (9 percent in January 2012, an increase of 2,600 jobs)

10. Springfield — 8.8 percent (8.5 percent in January 2012, a decrease of 1,100 jobs)

11. Davenport-Moline-Rock Island — 8.4 percent (8.5 percent in January 2012, an increase of 2,100 jobs)

12. Bloomington-Normal — 7.7 percent (7.9 percent in January 2012, an increase of 1,200 jobs)

Posted March 14, 2013

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