January 25, 2024 – Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs increased in eight metropolitan areas, decreased in five and was unchanged in one for the year ending December 2023, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES). Over-the-year, the unemployment rate increased in thirteen metropolitan areas and decreased in one.
In Decatur, The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased +1.2 percentage points to 5.7 percent in December 2023 from 4.5 percent in December 2022. There were an estimated 2,574 unemployed people in the labor force in December 2023. The number of total nonfarm jobs in the Decatur metro area decreased by -700 compared to last December. Employment increased in the Construction-Mining (+200) and Retail Trade (+100) sectors. Payrolls were unchanged in Information, Wholesale Trade, Financial Activities, Educational-Health Services, Leisure-Hospitality and Other Services. Payroll employment decreased in Manufacturing (-500), Government (-300), Professional-Business Services (-100) and Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (-100) between December 2022 and December 2023.
The metro areas that had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Danville MSA (+1.8%, +500) and the Springfield MSA (+1.7%, +1,900). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago Metro were up +0.8% or +31,600. The metro areas with the largest over-the-year percentage decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Kankakee MSA (-1.6%, -700) and the Decatur MSA (-1.4%, -700). Peoria MSA saw no change in total nonfarm jobs. The industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included: Education and Health Services (eleven areas); Leisure and Hospitality and Government (ten areas each); Mining and Construction (nine areas); and Other Services (eight areas).
The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate increases were the Rockford MSA (+1.3 points to 5.9%), the Decatur MSA (+1.2 points to 5.7%), and the Kankakee MSA (+1.2 points to 5.9%). The unemployment rate fell in the Chicago Metro (-0.3 point to 3.9%).
