The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate held at 4.1 percent in September and nonfarm payrolls increased by +2,800 jobs over-the-month, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and released by IDES. The August job losses were revised upward from the preliminary report (from -5,200 jobs to -3,100 jobs).
Job growth was flat during the July to September period (third quarter) posting an average monthly change of -100 jobs, significantly less than the prior 3-month average monthly gain of +9,200 jobs during the April and June period (second quarter). The 9-month period (year-to-date) is posting average monthly gains of 4,900/month, up from a year ago when the average monthly increase was 4,000 for the same year-to-date period.
“Nonfarm payrolls were up over-the-month led by gains in education and health services and manufacturing, and jobs were also up over 50,000 from a year ago, “said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “Illinois’ unemployment rate at 4.1 percent in September again matched the record low for the state.”
“Over the last year, Illinois has experienced a steady decrease in unemployment,” said Illinois Department of Commerce Acting Director Leslie Munger. “We are thrilled to see opportunity and investment expand across all communities in the state due to an increased focus on supporting our small businesses and marketing our assets to companies around the globe looking to expand.”
In September, the three industry sectors with the largest over-the-month gains in employment were: Education and Health Services (+3,300); Manufacturing (+2,300); and Construction (+1,400). The industry sectors with the largest payroll declines were: Professional and Business Services (-2,500), Other Services (-1,500) and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-800).
Over-the-year, nonfarm payroll employment increased by +50,300 jobs with the largest gains in these industry sectors in September: Manufacturing (+14,600); Government (+10,900); and Leisure and Hospitality (+8,900). The industry sectors with over-the-year declines were: Information Services (-3,800) and Other Services (-900). Illinois nonfarm payrolls were up +0.8 percent over-the-year in sharp contrast to the nation’s +1.7 percent over-the-year gain in September.
The state’s unemployment rate is +0.4 percentage points higher than the national unemployment rate reported for September 2018, which declined to 3.7 percent. The Illinois unemployment rate is down -0.9 percentage points from a year ago when it was 5.0 percent. Before last month, the Illinois jobless rate last stood at 4.1 percent in February 1999.
The number of unemployed workers decreased -0.7 percent from the prior month to 266,800, down -17.1 percent over the same month for the prior year. The labor force was about unchanged over-the-month but declined -0.3 percent over-the-year. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and are seeking employment.
- Anon0091 - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 2:04 pm:
Economic performance under Quinn was awful. Never thought I’d miss the Quinn heyday.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 2:19 pm:
If Rauner hadn’t invested so heavily in his “Death Spiral” bit, he could be campaigning now on the fact that more Illinoisans are working, and fewer are unemployed, than at any time since 2007.
Dude never learned to pivot. Except to run right at McCann in the general, lol.
- anon2 - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 2:20 pm:
Four years ago, candidate Rauner excoriated Gov. Quinn for the weak job growth.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 2:26 pm:
When a Democratic leader, Mike Madigan, offers to work on further workers comp reform, take him up on it. That’s why someone with an Edgar attitude is needed here—work with opponents and don’t demonize them.
When AFSCME is willing to work toward a contract with reasonable concessions, work together and close the deal. Instead there’s no contract and no taxpayer savings, only taxpayer debt due to steps owed with interest.
When the progressive tax proponents lost, there was sadness but no desire to hold budgets hostage for what they couldn’t get. Same with MMJ and SSM proponents. They went back and tried again without stopping budgets.
- Al - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 2:52 pm:
So we nearly doubled the State’s General Obligation debt in three years and all we got was LESS job growth than Governor Quinn? That is very…special.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 2:57 pm:
Quinn Failed.
Rauner Failed Bigly
- @misterjayem - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 3:07 pm:
Something own…
Governors something…
Something something…
– MrJM
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 3:10 pm:
Where’s Mike Schrimpf when we need him…
… Governor failed…
And… scene.
- Anon - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 3:11 pm:
The Rauner misery will look like a golden era compared to the catastrophe that will ensue in the event of a recession in the next few years.
We have managed only meager growth and an inability to genuinely balance the budget in the face of the longest bull market in history.
Any type of slowdown will hit us hard, and just as the ramp starts escalating.
The smoke and mirrors that other governors used in the past won’t work in the future, and there will undoubtedly come a point in his 4 years I suspect where JB will be asking himself why on earth he ever wanted that job in the first place.
People have no clue how bad it is going to be in the this state when the next recession inevitably hits.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 3:12 pm:
===just as the ramp starts escalating===
LOL
Have you looked at the ramp?
- Perrid - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 4:00 pm:
@Anon, “and just as the ramp starts escalating”
I second Rich. The unfunded liabilities are projected (as in PLANNED) to grow until 2028.
The biggest one year jump (increase) is from 33 to 34 if memory serves, and if you think the economy is going to keep on going on for another 16 years I got some beach land in Kansas to sell you.
- Steve - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 6:08 pm:
Higher state incomes taxes should ramp up the economic growth around Illinois. When taxpayers have less money , at least Illinois government will have more money.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 7:22 pm:
“Higher state incomes taxes should ramp up the economic growth around Illinois. When taxpayers have less money , at least Illinois government will have more money.”
Illinois has the second lowest state income tax rate in the immediate vicinity. Job growth was weak here in 2015, after the rate fell. But some are not change people. The rates need to go up on the highest earners, schools need a higher state funding ratio and less reliance on property taxes.
- The Dude Abides - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 10:19 pm:
There are some campaign commercials out there that aren’t entirely accurate to say the least. The one that says “Bruce Rauner is a failure” is spot on.
Rauner came into office at the same time the income tax decreased. It didn’t do much for economic stimulation did it. It did help bring on a lot of debt which still has to be repaid. Now Bruce refers to himself as Illinois last chance. Last chance for what, bankruptcy?