CHICAGO–Unemployment rates were down over-the-year in all but one of Illinois’s metro areas and down in all but two of Illinois’s counties. Nine of the metro areas had increases in nonfarm jobs and five reported declines, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).

“While the job gains in the northeastern corner of the state show some signs of recovery, the rate of job growth remains well below the national average,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “There are pockets of modest job growth Downstate, but we’ve yet to see any sustainable trends.”

Illinois businesses added jobs in nine metro areas, with the largest increases in: Kankakee (+2.7 percent, +1,200), Lake/Kenosha (+1.6

percent, +6,700), and Springfield (+1.2 percent, +1,400). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division increased (+0.7 percent or +24,600). Illinois businesses lost jobs in five metro areas including Danville (-2.4 percent, -700), Rockford (-1.0 percent, -1,500), and Decatur (-0.6 percent, -300).

The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas included Government (10 of 14), Mining and Construction (nine of 14), Professional and Business Services (nine of 14), and Educational and Health Services (nine of 14).

Not seasonally adjusted data compares May 2017 with May 2016. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 4.3 percent in May 2017 and stood at 12.2 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in May 2017 and 10.6 percent in January 2010 at its peak. The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and looking for work, and is not tied to collecting unemployment insurance benefits.