State Unemployment Rate 5.3% for September

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced Friday that nonfarm payrolls were down 2,400 while the unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.3 percent in September, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and released by IDES. The September monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from +7,100 to -15,800, while the revised unemployment rate was 5.3 percent, unchanged from the preliminary September unemployment rate. 

In October, the industry sectors with the largest over-the-month job losses included: Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,900), Other Services (-1,000), Information (-300), and Professional and Business Services (-300). The industry sectors with monthly payroll job increases included: Leisure and Hospitality (+1,400), Manufacturing (+100), and Private Education and Health Services (+100).

“Illinois continues to prioritize capitalizing on opportunities to enhance investments in the workforce and to support the talented and diverse labor force across the state,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “IDES and its workforce partners remain committed to providing jobseekers and employers with the critical resources they need to take advantage of a robust, healthy workforce ecosystem.”

The state’s unemployment rate was +1.2 percentage points higher than the national unemployment rate reported for October. The national unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in October, unchanged from the previous month.

The Illinois unemployment rate was up +0.5 percentage point from a year ago when it was 4.8 percent. Compared to a year ago, total nonfarm payroll jobs increased by +40,500 jobs. The industry groups with the largest jobs increases included: Private Education and Health Services (+30,400), Government (+22,300), and Other Services (+9,200). The industry groups with the largest jobs decreases included: Professional and Business Services (-18,400), Financial Activities (-8,000), and Information (-1,600). In October, total nonfarm payrolls were up +0.7 percent over-the-year in Illinois and up +1.4 percent in the nation.