SPRINGFIELD – Total nonfarm jobs increased in thirteen metropolitan areas and decreased in one for the year ending February 2023, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES). Over-the-year, the unemployment rate decreased in seven areas, increased in five areas and was unchanged in two.

“Today’s data is further indication that job growth continues to trend in the right direction with expansion throughout every corner of the state across sectors,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “Job expansion creates new and growing career opportunities for jobseekers and the demand for employers to invest in and retain the talented and diverse Illinois labor force.”

The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Bloomington MSA (+4.8%, +4,500), the Peoria MSA (3.9%, +6,400), and the Champaign-Urbana MSA (+3.4%, +4,000). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago Metropolitan Division were up +2.1% or +77,500. Total nonfarm jobs were down in the Illinois section of the St. Louis MSA (-0.4%, -1,000). Industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included: Mining and Construction and Leisure and Hospitality (fourteen areas each); Education and Health Services, Other Services and Government (thirteen areas each); Manufacturing and Wholesale Trade (eleven areas each); Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (ten areas).

The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were in the Chicago Metropolitan Division (-0.9 point to 4.1%), the Rockford MSA (-0.8 point to 6.3%), and the Decatur MSA (-0.6 point to 5.9%). The largest unemployment rate increases were in the Lake County-Kenosha County Metro (+0.4 point to 5.4%), the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (+0.3%, +4.6%) and the Elgin Metro (+0.3 point to 5.9%). The unemployment rate was unchanged in the Bloomington MSA (4.0%) and the Champaign-Urbana MSA (4.1%).

Metropolitan Area	February	February	Over-the-Year
	2023*	2022**	Change
Bloomington MSA	98,000	93,500	4,500
Carbondale-Marion MSA	58,000	56,700	1,300
Champaign-Urbana MSA	122,000	118,000	4,000
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division	3,730,300	3,652,800	77,500
Danville MSA	26,900	26,400	500
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA	181,100	179,300	1,800
Decatur MSA	48,500	47,600	900
Elgin Metro Division	260,400	253,200	7,200
Kankakee MSA	43,000	42,100	900
Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division	407,300	404,700	2,600
Peoria MSA	170,900	164,500	6,400
Rockford MSA	146,500	143,300	3,200
Springfield MSA	108,600	106,000	2,600
Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA	234,300	235,300	-1,000
Illinois Statewide	6,026,500	5,881,500	145,000
*Preliminary | **Revised

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 4.6 percent in February 2023 from 4.3 percent in February 2022.

Total nonfarm employment increased +1,800 compared to February 2022.

Leisure-Hospitality (+900), Educational-Health Services (+800), Manufacturing (+700), Wholesale Trade (+500) and Government (+500) had the largest payroll gains over the year. The Professional-Business Services (-1,300), Retail Trade (-700), Financial Activities (-300), and Information (-100) sectors recorded employment declines over the year.

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.

Note: Monthly 2022 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2023, as required by the U.S. BLS. Comments and tables distributed for prior metro area news releases should be discarded as any records or historical analysis previously cited may no longer be valid. The official monthly unemployment rate series for metro areas, counties and most cities begins in 1990. The official monthly nonfarm jobs series for metro areas begins in 1990 and for non-metropolitan counties it begins in 1999.