In what comes as a mixed bag for the state's economy, Illinois saw an uptick in job numbers in most of its metropolitan areas through March 2024, even as unemployment rates also rose in a majority of the areas, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security disclosed today. Specifically, over the year, nonfarm jobs increased in nine metro areas, decreased in four, and held steady in one.

"Job growth continues to reach areas in every corner of the state throughout industries, creating new and expanded job opportunities for Illinois workers," Deputy Governor Andy Manar stated in the report. The stats did, however, reveal a relative downturn employment-wise for the Springfield area, which recorded a -4.0% hit, shedding approximately 4,400 jobs, ranking it as the metro with the largest over-the-year decrease in the total nonfarm jobs sector. This was closely followed by the Decatur and Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSAs, both experiencing substantial declines as well.

Conversely, the Champaign-Urbana MSA showed the most significant over-the-year percentage increase in jobs at +2.2%, which translates to about 2,700 new positions, as noted in the IDES report. The Elgin and Kankakee MSAs also saw noteworthy growth, adding 4,100 and 500 jobs, respectively. Government, private education, and health services were named as some of the industries driving job growth across the board.

Nevertheless, the employment landscape wasn't as bright when it came to unemployment rates. The report detailed an increase in eleven metropolitan areas, a decrease in two, and no change in one. The Chicago Metro's unemployment rate jumped by 0.8 points to 4.7%, the most significant rise among the metros. In comparison, the Rockford and Decatur MSAs offered a silver lining with a decrease in their unemployment rates.