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November jobs down 1,100

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* Press release…

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9 percent in November and nonfarm payrolls decreased by -1,100 jobs over-the-month, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and released by IDES. October job growth was revised up to show a larger gain (+9,300 jobs) than initially reported (+3,400 jobs).

November’s monthly payroll drop kept over-the-year job growth well below the national average. While Illinois job growth has had its ups and downs since the beginning of the year, the 3-month trend shows average gains of +100 jobs per month from September to November, while the six-month trend shows an increase of +800 average monthly job gains from June to November. The 3-month was better than reported last month, though the 6-month change showed less strength.

“Illinois employment growth saw a lot of over-the-month ups and downs this past year.” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “But payrolls overall have increased by about a half-percent over the year to date, which is an additional 23,900 jobs.”

“Our focus remains on creating a business-friendly environment that is conducive to opportunity,” said Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Sean McCarthy. “While we are still growing slower than the nation, Illinois is seeing the benefits of a pro-business administration that is committed to fostering innovation, attracting investment and creating jobs.”

In November, the three industry sectors with the largest gains in employment were: Professional and Business Services (+6,300); Manufacturing (+2,200); and Construction (+2,100). The three industry sectors with the largest payroll declines were: Government (-2,800); Financial Activities (-2,200) and Other Services (-2,100).

Over-the-year, nonfarm payroll employment increased by +25,900 jobs with the largest gains in these industry sectors in November: Financial Activities (+13,600); Professional and Business Services (+9,500); and Education and Health Services (+7,400). The industry sectors with the largest over-the-year declines include: Government (-8,000); Leisure and Hospitality (-1,800); and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-1,400). Illinois nonfarm payrolls were up +0.4 percent over-the-year in sharp contrast to the nation’s +1.4 percent over-the-year gain in November.

The state’s unemployment rate is +0.8 percentage points higher than the national unemployment rate reported for November 2017, which held at 4.1 percent. The Illinois unemployment rate is down -0.9 percentage points from a year ago when it was 5.8 percent. At 4.9 percent, the Illinois jobless rate is -0.8 percentage points lower than January 2017.

The number of unemployed workers dipped -1.0 percent from the prior month to 313,800, down -16.2 percent over the same month for the prior year. The labor force increased 0.3 percent over-the-month and declined by -0.9 percent in November 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… Illinois Working Together…

Today, the Illinois Department of Employment Security announced the state lost over 1,000 non-farm payroll jobs last month while the job growth rate was just 0.4% over-the-year, far below the national job growth rate of 1.4%. This news comes a day after the U.S. Census announced Illinois has lost nearly 34,000 people since mid-2016, the worst outmigration for any U.S. state.

In his 2014 inaugural address, Gov. Bruce Rauner said, “People are leavin’ to find jobs, or because they run companies, and they’re takin’ their jobs with `em.” Nearly three years into his term as governor, Rauner not only has failed to reverse Illinois’ economic stagnation leading to population loss, he’s made things much, much worse.

“Bruce Rauner promised to ‘bring back Illinois,’ but instead, we’ve gotten the Rauner two-step: stagnant job growth and record-high outmigration,” said Illinois Working Together Campaign Director Jake Lewis. “Instead of providing the economic stability needed to grow new jobs and attract new residents, Rauner’s failed leadership continues to drag Illinois’ economy down and push Illinoisans out.”

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 12:15 pm

Comments

Those tax increases sure are working.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 12:17 pm
-8000 government jobs?

Depends if you look as if the glass is half full or empty

Comment by Not politically correct Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 12:20 pm
More photo ops with bicentennial Pepsi can should turn things around soon.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 12:29 pm
On the bright side, with the recent news regarding population loss, there’s less competition.

Comment by City Zen Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 12:29 pm
Construction up, presumably due to good weather. That is good news for the trade unions.

But there is usually a seasonal bump in retail that may not be there this year. I know a lot of the local chain stores were holding off until December … and hiring less temporary staff. May be the beginning of a new trend caused by more e-commerce. I’m at the mall at the moment, and while traffic is heavier than “normal”, it is a lot lighter than I would have expected for the Christmas season.

The government job drop … be interesting to have a detailed breakout of it. Wonder if they were state level or local?

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 12:37 pm
Dear Bruce,
My congratulations on the elimination of 8000 of local government jobs. Your progress towards the “destruction of the administrative state” is picking up admirably. The effect of your impasse and other efforts to push financial crisis down to the local level is having its desired result. Sticking it to Af-scammy once again. It won’t be long brother.
Your friend,
Fake Steve Bannon

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 12:51 pm
But we have a budget?

Comment by Shemp Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 12:52 pm
I was just looking at the Chicago metro numbers. They are getting pretty good. Strip them out and Illinois is really doing bad.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 1:08 pm
“October job growth was revised up to show a larger gain (+9,300 jobs) than initially reported (+3,400 jobs).”

Just 2.5x larger than previously reported. Nothing to see here.

Comment by City Zen Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 1:09 pm
City Zen, I’ve noticed that the previous months numbers have been revised up almost every month.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 1:11 pm
I wonder how many of the 8,000 government jobs that were lost come from the 63,000 Illinois government workers making over $100,000 annually.

Unfortunately there will need to be more reductions in government positions given the fiscal disaster that is Illinois. Hopefully that can be done through attrition as opposed to layoffs.

Comment by SSL Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 1:14 pm
“Our focus remains on creating a business-friendly environment that is conducive to opportunity,” said Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Sean McCarthy. “While we are still growing slower than the nation, Illinois is seeing the benefits of a pro-business administration that is committed to fostering innovation, attracting investment and creating jobs.”

How about legalizing recreational cannabis and creating a ton of new jobs and taxes. This administration is clueless and out of touch with the citizens of the state. 8 states have legalized cannabis and counting.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 1:59 pm
–City Zen, I’ve noticed that the previous months numbers have been revised up almost every month.–

Yeah, because they’re monthly numbers.

–Just 2.5x larger than previously reported. Nothing to see here. –

Tell us, what do you see there? Conspiracy? By whom?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 2:02 pm
If the 8,000 government jobs are state and local, it’s a relatively good thing. If they are federal, not good at all. We pay way more in federal taxes than we get back it’s silly.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 2:03 pm
==Illinois is seeing the benefits of a pro-business administration==

Changing their tune now aren’t they. It was months and months of press releases about how everything would be rainbows and roses if they only got “reforms.” Now, all of a sudden - with no “reforms” mind you - things are getting better because of this Administration.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 3:33 pm
==Tell us, what do you see there? Conspiracy? By whom?==

Since IDES didn’t cite where the discrepancy was or why, I don’t see anything.

Comment by City Zen Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 3:47 pm
SSL- take a look the 100k club is made up of management and administration higher ups. You have to know none of those folks got cut. It’s regular folks that lose their jobs.

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 3:48 pm
Honeybear:

Two things:

1. There are an awful lot of non-management folks making over $100K a year. Lots of non-management PSAs in that crowd.

2. Being in management doesn’t exclude you from being “regular folks.”

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 3:56 pm
There are always monthly revisions with the BLS numbers. Nothing to be concerned about. Just noticing lately they’ve revised higher.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 4:05 pm
Demoralized- by regular folks I’m talking about the 80% of the U.S. Population who don’t make 100k.
My statement still stands- I wager that very few of those 8000 jobs lost were 100k plus
So folks who cheer government job loss
Should realize that it is
The 80% that’s taking the hit
I was just looking at Madison Co
Administration salaries
Astronomically high
It makes me so upset when they
Cut a lot of meager paid jobs
When it would be best to cut
1overcompensated official.
But we’re lumped together

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 4:54 pm
A lot of folks are blaming Rauner for these numbers. While I think he’s been a terrible governor, all of his pro-business job growth plans that could make a real difference have been thwarted by Madigan. See workers compensation and prevailing wage. You can’t blame Rauner for failing on jobs when his ideas haven’t been allowed to be implemented.

Comment by Impasse Casualty Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 8:25 pm
@Impass Casualty:

How much do you get paid to be a Rauner troll? Are you working in Russia, Ukraine, or the comfort of your mom’s basement?

Comment by Lynn S. Friday, Dec 22, 17 @ 2:55 am
Impasse is correct of course. But the usual suspects keep their heads firmly planted in the dirt.

Comment by Ron Friday, Dec 22, 17 @ 7:27 am