- from an Illinois Dept. Of Employment Security News Release -

NATIONAL RECESSION PRESSES STATE RATE TO 11.3 PERCENT
UP-AND-DOWN MOVEMENT IN RATE AND JOB GROWTH EXPECTED

CHICAGO – The Illinois seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January 2010 was 11.3 percent, up from the revised December 2009 rate of 11.0 percent, according to data released today by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The unemployment rate is at its highest level since August 1983.

“Although there are some signs the recession technically might have ended, there continues to be significant job pressures in Illinois and throughout the country,” IDES Director Maureen O’Donnell said. “Economic figures such as job growth and the unemployment rate are only illustrative when looked at in the broad picture of a trend and not a single month.”

Preliminary Illinois data for January reflects job growth. However, January traditionally is a difficult month in which to capture employment data. Further, recent federal changes in data estimation might result in larger monthly fluctuations as the national economy struggles to improve. The three-month moving average of payroll employment in Illinois, a broader view of job creation, still shows job loss. Up-and-down movement in the number of jobs and the percentage of the unemployed are common in a national recession. Since the recession began in December 2007, the nation has lost 8.4 million jobs. Illinois has lost 407,000 jobs.

The national unemployment rate in January was 9.7 percent. It also was 9.7 percent in February. Illinois employment data for February will be released later this month. That is because monthly labor force data is revised each February to meet requirements set by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Therefore, previous data, analysis and comments should be discarded because they might no longer be valid. The revisions, combined with benchmarking efforts for that same economic data, delay the January and February jobs and employment reports each year.

The unemployment rate is not the same measurement as those collecting unemployment benefits. The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment, regardless if they are eligible for unemployment insurance. Workers collecting benefits are counted separately. Therefore, a person who exhausts or is ineligible for unemployment insurance still would be reflected in the unemployment rate if they are seeking employment.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security administers federally funded employment services and unemployment insurance through its nearly 60 offices, including the Illinois workNet Centers. IDES also receives federal grants to provide and analyze labor market statistics and information.

Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
January
2010 December
2009 January
2009 3-Month
Moving Avg.
Illinois 11.3% 11.0%* 8.1%* 11.1%
U.S. 9.7% 10.0% 7.7%* 9.9%
* Revised

Illinois Seasonally Adjusted Non-farm Jobs – by Major Industry
Industry Title January
2010* December
2009** January
2009** Over the Month Change Over the Year
Change 3-Month
Moving Avg. Change from
Previous
3-Month
Mov. Avg.

Total Nonfarm 5,584,200 5,558,200 5,803,900 26,000 -219,700 5,574,300 -4,300
Mining 9,300 9,300 9,700 0 -400 9,400 0
Construction 201,400 202,300 236,500 -900 -35,100 203,800 -4,500
Manufacturing 555,100 554,100 619,900 1,000 -64,800 555,700 -1,500
Trade, Transportation, & Utilities 1,132,700 1,121,100 1,169,700 11,600 -37,000 1,126,000 2,500
Information 104,000 103,500 110,400 500 -6,400 103,600 0
Financial Activities 366,200 365,500 381,700 700 -15,500 365,900 -200
Professional and Business Services 770,700 767,900 824,000 2,800 -53,300 769,600 200
Educational and Health Services 824,900 820,800 811,700 4,100 13,200 822,800 1,200
Leisure and Hospitality 510,900 506,800 523,300 4,100 -12,400 508,500 100
Other Services 253,800 252,500 260,500 1,300 -6,700 253,100 -200
Government 855,200 854,400 856,500 800 -1,300 855,900 -1,900

* Preliminary ** Revised