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Illinois adds almost 15,000 jobs in a month, but IDES still gloomy

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* Press release…

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that Illinois’ unemployment rate in March rose 0.1 percentage points to 6.5 percent and nonfarm payrolls increased by +14,700 jobs, based on preliminary data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and IDES. Illinois surpassed its January 2008 payroll peak by +16,500 jobs but remains -46,100 jobs short of its peak employment level reached in September 2000. Illinois continues to lag behind while the nation currently stands 3.9 percent above its prior peak employment level.

“While Illinois experienced job growth in March, the over-the-year growth rate still lags behind the rest of the nation,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “Monthly employment numbers are volatile but in order to see true and robust job growth, we need more effective policies in place to help Illinois recover its employment peak.”

“Unemployment in Illinois continues to rise as our state fails to keep pace with the rest of the country in job growth,” Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Sean McCarthy said. “Industries like manufacturing continue to struggle to regain jobs lost since 2008 - in March alone, 100 manufacturing jobs per day were lost; that’s 100 middle-class families every single day facing the financial stress, hardship and uncertainty of losing a well-paying job. We need to take action on structural reforms that will make Illinois as competitive as it should be to curb the loss of middle-class jobs.”

In March, the three industry sectors with the largest gains in employment were: Leisure and Hospitality (+6,300); Construction (+4,100) and Financial Activities (+3,200). The two industry sectors with the largest declines in employment were: Manufacturing (-3,100); and Professional and Business Services (-1,400).

Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased by +79,900 jobs with the largest gains in Leisure and Hospitality (+25,500); Educational and Health Services (+21,600); and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+16,800). Industry sectors with over-the-year declines in March include: Manufacturing (-7,500) and Information (-1,900). The 1.3 percent over-the-year gain in Illinois is less than the 2.0 percent gain posted by the nation in March.

The state’s unemployment rate is higher than the national unemployment rate reported for March 2016, which inched up to 5.0 percent. The Illinois unemployment rate stood 0.6 percentage points above the unemployment rate a year ago when it was 5.9 percent. According to IDES analysts, the unemployment rate is increasing in Illinois because of lagging job growth and more workers entering the labor force who are not immediately able to find work.

The number of unemployed workers increased +2.3 percent from the prior month to 429,600 and was up +11.6 percent over the same month for the prior year. The labor force grew by +2.3 percent in March over the prior year. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and are seeking employment. An individual who exhausts or is ineligible for benefits is still reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.

…Adding… From walker in comments…

As soon as some sort of victory is declared on the TA, these same data will be portrayed as “Illinois Is Back!”

Yep.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 12:33 pm

Comments

Just think of how many more jobs we could retain if we funded the state budget. Universities and social service providers have laid off hundreds of people in just the past few months. For no apparent reason.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 12:37 pm
As soon as some sort of victory is declared on the TA, these same data will be portrayed as “Illinois Is Back!”

Comment by walker Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 12:38 pm
state spending circulates a lot of money and helps to drive our ecnomy. just not having a budget is one of the biggest factors in our employment problem. imagine the jobs we coukd spark if we put the unpaid billions in bills into the economy.

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 12:42 pm
Once again, walker’s on it.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 12:42 pm
47th +1

Comment by Huh? Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 12:44 pm
Beware the IDES of March … data.

Comment by The Captain Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 12:45 pm
Walker +1

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 12:50 pm
@Walker- YES! @47th- EXACTLY!

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 12:55 pm
Dear Director Mays:

I thought you were supposed to be promoting employment in Illinois?

Please stop doing Eric Zorn’s job of explaining this administration’s poor performance. You are undermining his job security.

Sincerely,

Committee to Keep Zorn off the Dole

Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 12:58 pm
The Turnaround Agenda can already claim it as a victory because the mere suggestion of it is a catalyst for our state’s economic expansion!

I’m seeing sweat shops being planned and are being expected to open in many old abandoned Walmart store buildings. Job opportunities starting at $5 an hour for workers over 5 years of age.

/s

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 12:58 pm
Gloom=justification

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 1:06 pm
Look at the total of 10 press releases DCEO has issued since Rauner took office. Look at the private economic development corp’s website that has been unchanged since it was launched 2 month ago. Listen to the consistent disparagement of this state from the admin. This group just isn’t gonna do anything tto help the economy of this state until they get what they want.

Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 1:07 pm
I’m looking forward to Rauner’s re-elect slogan:

“IL Has Failed. Re-Elect the Governor.”

Comment by Gooner Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 1:15 pm
Indeed, this is sham job growth until Madigan and the legislators he controls pass job creating reforms that grow the economy. /s

Comment by AC Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 1:20 pm
=== Look at the total of 10 press releases DCEO has issued since Rauner took office. ===

But contrast that with DCEO’s homepage, where all things positive about Illinois business are spotlighted.

Check out the “Why Illinois?” two-page flyer.

See the “Illinois: The State of Innovation” digital mag produced by DCEO:

http://www.businessclimate.com/illinois-economic-development-digital-magazine/

You’d think think Illinois is “kickin’ the other state’s butts,” as the governor would say.

Comment by Louis Capricious Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 1:24 pm
Sorry, that’s “other states’ …”

Comment by Louis Capricious Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 1:28 pm
All those low paying leisure and hospitality jobs are a cause for celebration! Oh, wait . . .

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 1:31 pm
At some point, they are going to have declare victory and pivot.

You can’t run for re-election on a platform of “The IL economy has sunk for the past four years. Give him four more!”

Comment by Gooner Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 1:33 pm
- “You’d think think Illinois is “kickin’ the other state’s butts,” as the governor would say.”

Rauner needs to control the narrative. Rauner has different messages for specific groups just to manipulate opinions and sentiments.

If only we were as gullible, naive and ignorant as Rauner believes us to be.

If only Rauner were the superior visionary intellectual as Rauner believes himself to be.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 1:45 pm
Wait until all the newly unemployed college professionals are added to these numbers.

Comment by BBG Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 1:46 pm
=== Rauner needs to control the narrative. Rauner has different messages for specific groups just to manipulate opinions and sentiments. ===

Indeed. But what’s stunning about those DCEO items mentioned above is that they’re all 180 degrees from his principal message that Illinois business is getting a swirly.

Comment by Louis Capricious Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 2:40 pm
Rauner Recession?

Anybody know where to look to get the IL GDP? Are we contracting due to the missing $7b in the economy?

Comment by cdog Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 2:52 pm
6.5% unemployment today vs 5.9% a year ago. The Quinn administration keeps looking better.

Comment by anon Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 3:37 pm
- All those low paying leisure and hospitality jobs -

Pretty rich coming from someone who supports lowering wages.

Maybe Bruce could start by symbolically lowering the chair of the WCC’s salary to something more modest than $125k.

That work for you?

Comment by Daniel Plainview Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 4:03 pm
Daniel - you hit the nail on the head.

Comment by Middle Class Blue Collar Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 4:20 pm
The Raunerites like to use this argument but actually Illinois is doing fine with jobs when you take population into account.
Illinois and most of the Midwest and Northeast have lower population growth than the country, and also lower job growth. People have been moving south and west for decades because the Northeast/Midwest is relatively overpopulated and has cold winters.
If you look at the proportion of jobs to residents, Illinois is at least average and probably higher.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 4:33 pm
Daniel, your continuing personal,anonymous and cowardly attacks on my wife continue. If you are thrilled that we continue replacing manufacturing and higher paying jobs with hospitality jobs that pay less, then go work one of those.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 6:09 pm
Attacks? Since when is discussing wages an attack?

Better tell your buddy Bruce, he does it all the time about my friends and family.

Or you could grow thicker skin, if that’s possible.

Comment by Daniel Plainview Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 7:16 pm
Let’s see. You use the name Daniel Plainview and you are fixated on my wife. Fill in the dots.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 8:40 pm
What hospitality jobs?

Tourism in Chicago is in a free fall.

14 trade shows have left McCormick Place since the reform legislation.

Rauner hired the superstar Don Welsh and spent $35.2 million in secrecy to get us nothing.

Chicago hotel occupancy numbers in January and February tell a grim tale.

http://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/news/2016/03/21/chicago-hotel-occupancy-numbers-in-january-and.html

Comment by Chicago 20 Thursday, Apr 14, 16 @ 9:24 pm