Employers Boost Payrolls by +8,200 in May
As expected, the Illinois seasonally
adjusted unemployment rate in May increased +0.2
points to 8.9 percent. The increase follows 15 months
of declining unemployment rates and was expected
because slight up-and-down movements in the rate and
the number of jobs created naturally occur in an
economic recovery, according to the Illinois
Department of Employment Security.
The national unemployment rate also increased in May,
up +0.1 point to 9.1 percent. The Illinois rate has
been equal to or below the U.S. rate for eight
consecutive months. Illinois’ three-month moving
average remained at 8.8 percent in May, unchanged
from April and its lowest average since March 2009.
“Illinois added more than 8,000 jobs in May,
continuing the long-term trend of a healing economy
and reflects successful efforts to grow jobs,” IDES
Acting Director Jay Rowell said. “Just as we expected
the unemployment rate would tick upward at times
during our recovery, we know job-creation must
continue and individuals should take advantage of the
state’s workforce training network so they can
improve their skills and be part of the economic
growth.”
Illinois added +8,200 jobs in May. The three-month
moving average of seasonally adjusted payroll
employment shows +6,600 additional positions for
March through May. The three-month context better
depicts trends in the labor market by offsetting
fluctuations in monthly payroll estimates. Since
January 2010 when Illinois employment resumed after
the national recession, Illinois has added +107,700
net new jobs. Leading sectors are Professional and
Business Services (+39,900); Educational and Health
Services (+28,100); Trade, Transportation and
Utilities (+25,600); and Manufacturing (+19,900).
That represents a 1.9 percent job growth, compared to
the nation’s 1.4 percent.
In May, the number of unemployed individuals rose for
the first time since January 2010, increasing +9,800
(+1.7 percent) to 585,000. Total unemployed has
declined -155,100 (-21.0 percent) since January 2010
when the state unemployment rate peaked at 11.2
percent. The unemployment rate identifies those who
are out of work and seeking employment. A person who
exhausts benefits, or is ineligible, still will be
reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively
seek work.
The IDES supports economic stability by administering
unemployment benefits, collecting business
contributions to fund those benefits, connecting
employers with qualified job seekers, and providing
economic information to assist career planning and
economic development. It does so through nearly 60
offices, including Illinois workNet centers.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
May
2011 April
2011 May
2010 3-Month
Moving Avg.
Illinois 8.9% 8.7% 10.5%* 8.8%
U.S. 9.1% 9.0% 9.6%* 9.0%
* Revised
Illinois Seasonally Adjusted Non-farm Jobs – by Major
Industry
Industry Title May
2011* April
2011**
May
2010** Over the Month Change Over the Year
Change 3-Month
Moving Avg. Change from
Previous
3-Month
Mov. Avg.
Total Non-farm 5,688,200 5,680,000
5,626,600 8,200 61,600 5,679,700 6,600
Mining 9,300 9,400 9,000 -100 300 9,400 -100
Construction 205,300 202,900 199,400
2,400 5,900 203,600 1,300
Manufacturing 573,100 568,700 560,900
4,400 12,200 568,500 3,200
Trade, Transportation, & Utilities 1,144,400
1,145,400 1,125,700 -1,000 18,700
1,143,300 2,800
Information 97,000 96,400 101,800
600 -4,800 97,100 -800
Financial Activities 355,500 353,200
361,600 2,300 -6,100 354,400 -100
Professional and Business Services 820,200
819,700 799,000 500 21,200 820,300 800
Educational and Health Services 849,800 848,400
829,600 1,400 20,200 848,400 500
Leisure and Hospitality 519,900 522,800
513,100 -2,900 6,800 522,200 -2,700
Other Services 258,600 260,000 254,200
-1,400 4,400 259,800 -300
Government 855,100 853,100 872,300
2,000 -17,200 852,700 2,100
* Preliminary
** Revised
Notes:
• Illinois monthly labor force, unemployed and
unemployment rates for years 2006-2010 have been
revised as required by the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics. In February of each year, monthly labor
force data for all states are revised to reflect
updated Census population controls, seasonal factors,
non-farm jobs and unemployment insurance claims
inputs. Data were also smoothed to eliminate large
monthly changes as a result of volatility in the
monthly household (CPS) survey. Comments and tables
distributed in prior Illinois unemployment rate news
release materials should be discarded because any
analysis, including records, previously cited might
no longer be valid.
• Seasonally adjusted employment data for subsectors
within industries are not available. For not
seasonally adjusted jobs data with greater industry
detail, go to
http://lmi.ides.state.il.us/cesfiles/cescurrent.htm.
• “Other Services” includes a wide range of
activities in three broad categories: Personal and
laundry; repair and maintenance; and religious, grant
making, civic and professional organizations.
• Monthly seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for
Illinois and the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet
Metropolitan Division are available at:
http://lmi.ides.state.il.us/laus/icmaur.htm.