SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate increased +0.3 percentage point to 4.4 percent, while nonfarm payrolls increased +9,500 in September to a record high and surpassing the pre-pandemic number of total nonfarm payrolls, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and released by IDES. The August revised unemployment rate was 4.1 percent, unchanged from the preliminary August unemployment rate. The August monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from -100 to +3,800 jobs. The September unemployment rate and payroll jobs estimate reflect activity for the week including the 12th.
In September, the industry sectors with the largest over-the-month job gains included: Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+3,400), Manufacturing (+2,500), and Leisure and Hospitality (+2,100). The industry sectors with monthly payroll job declines included: Professional and Business Services (-2,200), Construction (-300), and Mining (-100).
“The Illinois labor market continues to benefit from significant, steady long-term job growth throughout the state, motivating and mobilizing jobseekers eager to reconnect with the workforce,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “IDES and its local workforce partners are at the ready to provide workers and employers with the services they need to find their next career and fill open positions in this prime job market.”
“Momentum is growing in the labor market as Illinois’ payroll jobs reach a record high, demonstrating that Illinois businesses – supported by our world-class workforce – continue to create jobs and contribute to a positive economic trajectory,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “DCEO will continue to invest in the state’s world-class workforce to ensure Illinois remains the best place to live, work and do business.”
The state’s unemployment rate was +0.6 percentage point higher than the national unemployment rate reported for September. The national unemployment rate was 3.8 percent in September, unchanged from the previous month. The Illinois unemployment rate was down -0.2 percentage point from a year ago when it was at 4.6 percent.
Compared to a year ago, nonfarm payroll jobs increased by +79,400 jobs, with gains across most major industries. The industry groups with the largest jobs increases included: Educational and Health Services (+36,900), Government (+29,900), and Leisure and Hospitality (+27,300). Professional and Business Services (-20,300), Manufacturing (-7,200), and Information (-4,900) reported the largest declines in payroll jobs. In September, total nonfarm payrolls were up +1.3 percent over-the-year in Illinois and up +2.1 percent in the nation.
The number of unemployed workers was 282,500, up +6.1 percent from the prior month, and down -4.7 percent over the same month one year ago. The labor force was almost unchanged (0.0 percent) over-the-month and down -0.1 percent over-the-year. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment. An individual who exhausts or is ineligible for benefits is still reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.
In June 2020, Governor Pritzker launched Get Hired Illinois, a one-stop-shop website to help connect job seekers with hiring employers in real time. The site features virtual job fairs, no-cost virtual training, and includes IllinoisJobLink.com (IJL), the state’s largest job search engine, which recently showed 53,689 posted resumes with 108,492 available jobs.