December unemployment unchanged at 8.7 percent

4 months ago

Private sector job growth up 167,000 during the recovery

The December 2012 unemployment rate was unchanged at 8.7 percent, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). The data is seasonally adjusted. One year ago, the December rate was 9.7 percent. Total payrolls decreased -7,600 in December 2012, nearly one-third of which were temporary layoffs with return-to-work dates in January, 2013.

“Illinois’ long-term trend is that of moderate growth punctuated by monthly up-and-down movement in the unemployment rate and the number of people working,” IDES Director Jay Rowell said. “This positive trend still is threatened by Congress and its continuing deliberations on the debt ceiling and the fiscal cliff.”

Illinois added +167,000 private sector jobs since January 2010 when job growth returned following nearly two years of consecutive monthly declines. Leading growth sectors are Professional and Business Services (+79,500); Education and Health Services (+43,600); and Manufacturing (+39,800). Government has lost the most jobs since January 2010, down -30,700.

In December 2012, the number of unemployed individuals increased +1,700 (+0.3 percent) to 576,600. Total unemployed declined -176,200 (-23.4 percent) since January 2010 when the state unemployment rate peaked at 11.4 percent.

The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. A person who exhausts benefits, or is ineligible, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work. Historically, the national unemployment rate is lower than the state rate. The state rate has been lower than the national rate only six times since January 2000.

More than 100,000 help-wanted ads are on Illinoisjoblink.com, the IDES employment website that links job seekers with employers. This no-cost career resource allows individuals to create multiple resumes that emphasize different talents and allows businesses to search for specific skills. The keyword matching technology increases the likelihood of a successful new hire. Illinoisjoblink.com emphasizes Illinois jobs, scrapes other job boards, and compares favorably to private efforts that cost hundreds of dollars for a single advertisement. No-cost HR recruitment services are available there and at (877) 342-7533.

 

Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

 

 

December 2012

November 2012

December 2011

3-Month Moving Avg.

Illinois

8.7%

8.7%

9.7%*

8.7%

U.S.

7.8%

7.8%*

8.5%*

7.8%

*  Revised

 

Illinois Seasonally Adjusted Non-farm Jobs – by Major Industry

 

Industry Title

December 2012*

November 2012**

December 2011**

Over the Month Change

Over the Year Change

3-Month Moving Avg.

Change from Previous 3-Month Mov. Avg.

Total Nonfarm     

5,717,900

5,725,500

5,676,000

-7,600

41,900

5,718,100

3,300

Mining

9,700

9,600

9,700

100

0

9,600

0

Construction     

182,700

179,800

191,300

2,900

-8,600

182,500

-500

Manufacturing    

593,400

598,700

576,900

-5,300

16,500

596,200

-900

Trade, Transportation, & Utilities

1,145,900

1,145,100

1,142,200

800

3,700

1,141,400

4,200

Information      

97,900

96,800

99,800

1,100

-1,900

97,200

200

Financial Activities

366,200

366,600

360,500

-400

5,700

366,500

-200

Professional and Business Services

859,300

863,500

838,500

-4,200

20,800

860,000

0

Educational and Health Services

865,200

866,300

857,100

-1,100

8,100

865,000

1,400

Leisure and Hospitality

534,800

534,200

519,800

600

15,000

535,100

500

Other Services   

238,000

238,200

247,500

-200

-9,500

238,100

-100

Government        

824,800

826,700

832,700

-1,900

-7,900

826,600

-1,100

 

                              * Preliminary                    ** Revised