SPRINGFIELD – The unemployment rate remained low in area counties for the month ending in April 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES) displayed today.

For April 2023, Madison County had an unemployment rate of 3.5 percent compared to 3.6 percent the same time last year, while Jersey County also had a 3.5 percent unemployment rate compared to 3.4 percent last year at this time and Macoupin County's rate was 3.5 percent compared to 3.6 percent a year ago. Calhoun County was at 3.8 percent compared to 3.6 percent a year ago and Greene County dropped from 4.0 percent to 3.9 percent this year.

Get The Latest News!

Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.

Edwardsville's unemployment rate has remained steady from 3.1 percent last year to 3.0 percent in April 2023. Alton recorded a 4.8 percent unemployment rate, compared to 4.9 percent in April 2022. Granite City has a 3.3 percent unemployment rate and was the same as a year ago. East St. Louis remained steady at 6.4 percent for April, compared to the same rate a year ago.

Metro East Highlights

The April 2023 unemployment rate for the Illinois Section of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area was 3.7 percent. The unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage point over-the-year from the April 2022 rate of 3.8 percent. The data is not seasonally adjusted.

The labor force decreased by 94 in April 2023 from 334,497 to 334,403 in April 2022. The number of employed individuals increased by 132 to 322,081 in April 2023 from 321,949 in April 2022. There were 12,322 unemployed people in the labor force in April 2023. The number of unemployed persons decreased by 226 compared to the 12,548 unemployed in April 2022.

Total nonfarm payrolls increased by 600 jobs in April 2023 to 240,100 compared to 239,500 jobs in April 2022.

Payrolls increased in Leisure and Hospitality (+1,100), Educational and Health Services (+1,000), Mining and Construction (+700), Government (+500), Wholesale Trade (+200), and Other Services (+100).

Nonfarm payrolls declined in Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (-1,100), Retail Trade (-1,100), Professional and Business Services (-600), Manufacturing (-100), and Financial Activities (-100).

“Today’s data provides further evidence that stable and consistent job growth continues to expand in metro areas and industry sectors throughout the state,” Deputy Governor Andy Manar said. “As new jobs are created, new opportunities become available for those looking to reenter the workforce or shift to another career field.”

The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Champaign-Urbana MSA (+2.7% or +3,200), the Peoria MSA (+2.4% or +4,100), and the Elgin Metro (+2.4% or +6,200). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago Metro Division were up +1.6% or +59,800. The Carbondale-Marion MSA saw no change in total nonfarm jobs.

Industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included: Education and Health Services (13 areas); Leisure and Hospitality, Other Services and Government (12 areas each); Manufacturing, Wholesale Trade and Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (nine areas each); and Mining and Construction (eight areas).

The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate increases were the Lake-Kenosha County IL-WI Metro (+0.3 point to 4.3%), followed by the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (+0.2 point to 3.5%), the Kankakee MSA (+0.2 point to 5.4%), and the Rockford MSA (+0.2 point to 6.2%). The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were the Chicago Metro Division (-1.1 percentage points to 3.2%), a record low unemployment rate for the month of April, followed by the Springfield MSA (-0.4 point to 3.7%), and the Carbondale-Marion MSA (-0.2 point to 3.9%). The unemployment rate was unchanged in the Bloomington MSA (3.4%), the Champaign-Urbana MSA (3.6%), and the Peoria MSA (4.5%).

Unemployment Rates (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

Metropolitan Area

April 2023*

April 2022**

Over-the-Year Change

Bloomington

3.4%

3.4%

0.0

Carbondale-Marion

3.9%

4.1%

-0.2

Champaign-Urbana

3.6%

3.6%

0.0

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights

3.2%

4.3%

-1.1

Danville

5.0%

4.9%

0.1

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL

3.5%

3.3%

0.2

Decatur

5.5%

5.6%

-0.1

Elgin

4.6%

4.5%

0.1

Kankakee

5.4%

5.2%

0.2

Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI

4.3%

4.0%

0.3

Peoria

4.5%

4.5%

0.0

Rockford

6.2%

6.0%

0.2

Springfield

3.7%

4.1%

-0.4

St. Louis (IL-Section)

3.7%

3.8%

-0.1

Illinois Statewide

3.7%

4.3%

-0.6

* Preliminary I ** Revised

Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

Metropolitan Area

April

April

Over-the-Year

2023*

2022**

Change

Bloomington MSA

98,200

96,800

1,400

Carbondale-Marion MSA

58,100

58,100

0

Champaign-Urbana MSA

123,300

120,100

3,200

Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division

3,776,500

3,716,700

59,800

Danville MSA

27,100

26,700

400

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA

183,400

181,600

1,800

Decatur MSA

48,400

47,700

700

Elgin Metro Division

264,200

258,000

6,200

Kankakee MSA

43,100

43,000

100

Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division

416,700

Article continues after sponsor message

412,800

3,900

Peoria MSA

171,900

167,800

4,100

Rockford MSA

145,700

144,900

800

Springfield MSA

109,200

107,200

2,000

Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA

240,100

239,500

600

Illinois Statewide

6,103,700

5,989,900

113,800

*Preliminary | **Revised

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

(percent) for Local Counties and Areas

Labor Market Area

Apr 2023

Apr 2022

Over the Year Change

St. Louis (IL-Section)

3.7 %

3.8 %

-0.1

Bond County

5.4 %

3.9 %

1.5

Calhoun County

3.8 %

3.6 %

0.2

Clinton County

3.0 %

2.8 %

0.2

Jersey County

3.5 %

3.4 %

0.1

Macoupin County

3.5 %

3.6 %

-0.1

Madison County

3.5 %

3.6 %

-0.1

Monroe County

2.6 %

2.7 %

-0.1

St. Clair County

4.1 %

4.2 %

-0.1

Cities

Alton City

4.8 %

4.9 %

-0.1

Belleville City

4.4 %

4.5 %

-0.1

Collinsville City

3.7 %

4.1 %

-0.4

East St. Louis City

6.4 %

6.4 %

0.0

Edwardsville City

3.0 %

3.1 %

-0.1

Granite City

3.3 %

3.3 %

0.0

O'Fallon City

3.5 %

3.7 %

-0.2

Counties

Greene County

3.9 %

4.0 %

-0.1

Randolph County

3.4 %

3.5 %

-0.1

Washington County

2.2 %

2.2 %

0.0

Other Areas

LWIA 21

3.9 %

4.0 %

-0.1

LWIA 22

3.6 %

3.6 %

0.0

LWIA 24

3.7 %

3.8 %

-0.1

Southwestern EDR

3.6 %

3.7 %

-0.1

Information Services posted no change.

More like this:

Feb 6, 2024 - Area Unemployment Stats Close 2023 With Low Margins

Dec 29, 2023 - Unemployment Rate Close To Same In November 2023 To Year Ago In Region

4 days ago - Illinois Payroll Jobs Up, Unemployment Rate Stable in March

Jul 28, 2023 - Unemployment Rates Slightly Higher From June 2022 to 2023 In Area

Sep 21, 2023 - Jobs Up, Unemployment Up in Most Metro Areas in August