Illinois Job Index:
MSA Report
Release
data
Issue
Mar 29/2016
Jan 1990 / February 2016
16.03
Note: IDES revised their estimates for the number of jobs at the beginning of 2016.
www.real.illinois.edu
As a companion to the Sep 2014 Illinois Job Index that reports an positive rating, this MSA Report provides a localized picture on Illinois job growth
and allows for comparisons between local economies, Illinois, the Nation and the Rest of the Midwest.
Mar
2016
Total non-farm employment
February 2016
Number of
Jobs
Nation
Rest of Midwest (RMW)
Illinois
Illinois Metro
Illinois non-Metro (Rural)
Illinois Chicago (Upstate)
Illinois non-Chicago
143,560,000
20,154,800
5,993,800
5,265,400
728,400
4,101,600
1,892,200
Jan 2016 – Feb 2016
Growth
Rate
(%)
0.17
0.18
0.30
0.30
0.36
0.38
0.13
Number of
Jobs
242,000
35,700
18,100
15,500
2,600
15,600
2,500
Last 12 months
Growth
Rate
(%)
1.90
1.47
1.11
1.60
-2.33
1.80
-0.35
Number
of Jobs
2,672,000
292,700
65,700
83,100
-17,400
72,400
-6,700
The monthly Illinois Job Index and MSA Report are provided as tools for elected officials, policy leaders and the public. Understanding the Illinois
economy and business climate is enhanced by comparing and measuring Illinois employment growth rates against those of the Rest of the Midwest
(RMW: Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin) and the Nation. Data and analysis are provided by the Illinois Economic
Observatory / Regional Economics Applications Laboratory, University of Illinois. The MSA data (unless noted) were seasonally adjusted to be
consistent with state totals.
Talking Points



State,
Downstate
& Metro







MSA
page (2-4)



Illinois added 18,100 jobs in February 2016, compared with a revised 1,500 job gain in January 2016. Compared to
February 2015, Illinois has added 65,700 jobs. The three-month moving average, a more stable measure of labor
market, showed an increase of 3,800 jobs per month.
The state of Illinois now has 8,600 more jobs than in December 2007 when the recent recession started.
Since January 2010 when Illinois employment resumed after the national recession, Illinois has added 410,100 new
jobs.
Chicago-Downstate and Metro-Rural both had positive performances.
Illinois Rural area added 2,600 jobs at 0.36% this month, compared to a revised 23,100 job loss in January 2016.
At the same time, Metro gained 15,500 jobs at 0.30% in February, compared to a revised 24,600 job gain in the
previous month.
Chicago added 15,600 jobs at 0.38% in February 2016, compared to a revised 14,900 job gain in January 2016.
Meanwhile, Downstate added 2,500 jobs at 0.13%, compared to a revised 13,400 job loss in the previous month.
In terms of the 12-month aggregated account, Metro registered a positive 1.60% growth by adding 83,100 jobs
whereas Rural lost 17,400 jobs at -2.33%. Chicago added 72,400 jobs at 1.80% whereas Downstate lost 6,700
jobs at -0.35%.
Through February 2016, the cumulative job growth for Metro, Rural, Chicago and Downstate compared to
January 1990 stood at 14.27%, 10.29%, 14.87% and 11.46% respectively.
Illinois Metro added 15,500 jobs at 0.30% in February 2016. Five out of ten MSAs posted positive growth.
Since the job recovery resumed in January 2010 in Illinois, Chicago Upstate has shown an average growth rate of
12.78%, which is the highest among all the IL MSAs; Bloomington-Normal has experienced the lowest average
growth rate, -3.50%.
In terms of growth performance, six MSAs posted net improvements from January to February, three declined
in terms of rank.
Rockford dropped to the last place in terms of monthly growth performance, while Kankakee remained at the
first place.
In the 12 months growth league table, Bloomington-Normal remained at the last place while Metro-East remained
in the first place.
Illinois Jobs Index: MSA REPORT
release 3/29/2016
www.real.illinois.edu
page 1
Total non-farm Employment growth Jan 1990 – February 2016
155.00
145.00
US (1)
RMW (2)
IL (3)
IL_NonChicago (4)
Metro (5)
Rural (6)
135.00
125.00
115.00
105.00
95.00
85.00
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Talking Points

State,
Downstate
& Metro
Illinois
RMW
Nation



While the average growth for Illinois between 1990 and 2008 was 0.04%, the average from December 2007 to
February 2016 was 0.002%. This is better than the performance during the 2000-2001 downturns which saw
a decline of -0.09%.
Since the economic crisis in December 2007, the average growth for Metro is 0.01% while for Rural it is 0.05%. The same rate for Chicago (Upstate) is 0.02% and for Downstate it is -0.04%.
Over the last 12-month period, the average growth rate for Metro was 0.13% and for Rural it was -0.19%.
Downstate registered a -0.29% average job loss in 2016, compared to an average gain of 0.04% in 2007, -0.11%
decline in 2008, -0.35% decline in 2009, 0.13% growth in 2010, 0.01% growth in 2011, 0.11% growth in 2012,
-0.03% decline in 2013, 0.08% job growth in 2014 and -0.01% job loss in 2015.
Average Growth Rates for Illinois, RMW and the Nation
2012(%)
2013(%)
2014(%)
2015(%)
0.12
0.07
0.09
0.00
0.12
0.12
0.12
0.12
0.14
0.14
0.19
0.16
2016(%)
0.16
0.17
0.14
By MSA
Market Area
Bloomington-Normal (B-N)
Champaign-Urbana (C-U-R)
Chicago
Davenport-Rock Island-Moline (D-R-M)
Decatur
Kankakee
Peoria
Rockford
Springfield
Metro-East
Illinois
Illinois Jobs Index: MSA REPORT
Feb 2016
Number of
Jobs
93,600
109,700
4,101,600
181,700
51,000
45,400
178,300
153,700
114,000
236,400
Jan 2015 – Feb 2016
Growth
compared
to Illinois
+
+
+
-
Last 12 months
Growth
Rate %
Number
Of Jobs
Growth
Rate %
-0.36
0.87
0.38
-0.39
-0.37
1.45
0.09
-0.46
0.23
-0.06
0.30
-300
1,000
15,600
-700
-200
600
200
-700
300
-100
18,100
-1.88
1.80
1.80
-1.17
-0.56
1.82
-0.34
2.11
1.33
3.54
1.11
release 3/29/2016
www.real.illinois.edu
Number
of Jobs
-1,800
1,900
72,400
-2,200
-300
800
-600
3,200
1,500
8,100
65,700
page 2
MSA League Tables*: Non-farm Employment Growth Rate
Monthly growth:
Rank
January 2016
February 2016
Rank
Change**
1
Metro-East(2.82%)
Kankakee(1.45%)
1
(+7)
2
Rockford (1.62%)
Champaign-Urbana-Rantoul(0.87%)
2
(+3)
3
Davenport-Rock Island-Moline(0.98%)
Chicago(0.38%)
3
(+1)
4
Chicago(0.35%)
Springfield (0.23%)
4
(+5)
5
Champaign-Urbana-Rantoul(0.11%)
Peoria(0.09%)
5
(+1)
6
Peoria(0.03%)
Metro-East(-0.06%)
6
(-5)
7
Bloomington-Normal(-0.25%)
Bloomington-Normal(-0.36%)
7
(+0)
8
Kankakee(-0.27%)
Decatur(-0.37%)
8
(+2)
9
Springfield (-0.43%)
Davenport-Rock Island-Moline(-0.39%)
9
(-6)
10
Decatur(-0.8%)
Rockford (-0.46%)
10
(-8)
Growth over last 12-months:
Rank
January 2016
February 2016
Rank
Change**
1
Metro-East (3.47%)
Metro-East (3.54%)
1
(+0)
2
Rockford (2.52%)
Rockford (2.11%)
2
(+0)
3
Kankakee (1.65%)
Kankakee (1.82%)
3
(+0)
4
Chicago (1.57%)
Champaign-Urbana-Rantoul (1.8%)
4
(+1)
5
Champaign-Urbana-Rantoul (1.02%)
Chicago (1.8%)
5
(-1)
6
Springfield (0.95%)
Springfield (1.33%)
6
(+0)
7
Decatur (0.01%)
Peoria (-0.34%)
7
(+1)
8
Peoria (-0.34%)
Decatur (-0.56%)
8
(-1)
9
Davenport-Rock Island-Moline (-0.96%)
Davenport-Rock Island-Moline (-1.17%)
9
(+0)
10
Bloomington-Normal (-1.2%)
Bloomington-Normal (-1.88%)
10
(+0)
Talking Points


MSA League
Tables




Rockford (2nd to 10th) experienced the deepest fall in February 2016.
Metro-East (1st to 6th) and Davenport-Rock Island-Moline (3th to 9th also dropped in terms of rank from last
month.
The most remarkable upward move in February was recorded for Kankakee (8th to 1st).
In the 12-month growth league table, upward moves were recorded for Champaign-Urbana-Rantoul (5th to
4th) and Peoria (8th to 7th).
Downward moves were recorded for Chicago (4th to 5th) and Decatur (7th to 8th).
In the 12 months growth league table, Bloomington-Normal stayed in the last place while Metro-East remained
in the first place.
*MSA League Tables are based on revised employment data. For instances of equal growth rate for multiple MSAs ranks are decided based on change of
growth rate from previous month.
**Changes indicate change in rank position compared to previous month and correspond to the MSA at the right column. Rise is indicated by a ‘’ and
decline by a ‘’ and for an unchanged position a ‘’ is used. Figures in parenthesis indicate relative rank change from previous month
Illinois Jobs Index: MSA REPORT
release 3/29/2016
www.real.illinois.edu
page 3
February 2016 MSA Employment by Sectors (000s) *
Market Area
Trade,
Construc- Manufac- transportat Information
turing
ion &
tion
(CON)
(MAN)
utilities
(INF)
(TTU)
Financial
activities
(FIN)
Profession
al &
Education Leisure &
Other
business & health hospitality Services
services
(EDU)
(LEI)
(OTH)
(PRO)
BloomingtonNormal
2.5
3.83
15.12
0.78
20.46
9.31
11.05
11.2
(2.7%)
(4.1%)
(16.2%)
(0.8%)
(21.8%)
(9.9%)
(11.8%)
(12%)
3.65
8.16
17.12
2.63
4.38
7.85
14.91
11.3
Champaign-Urbana
(3.3%)
(7.4%)
(15.6%)
(2.4%)
(4%)
(7.2%)
(13.6%) (10.3%)
142.86
342.04
830.38
76.06
273.17
747.92
626.2
406.7
Chicago
(3.5%)
(8.3%)
(20.2%)
(1.9%)
(6.7%)
(18.2%) (15.3%)
(9.9%)
9.49
23.23
37.38
2.21
7.26
25
26.35
17.36
Davenport-Rock
Island-Moline
(5.2%)
(12.8%) (20.6%)
(1.2%)
(4%)
(13.8%) (14.5%)
(9.6%)
3.08
10.08
10.73
0.6
1.81
3.01
8.75
5.15
Decatur
(6%)
(19.8%)
(21%)
(1.2%)
(3.5%)
(5.9%)
(17.2%) (10.1%)
1.38
5.39
10.68
0.43
2.03
3.45
9.6
3.84
Kankakee
(3%)
(11.9%) (23.6%)
(0.9%)
(4.5%)
(7.6%)
(21.2%)
(8.5%)
7.86
24.41
33.98
2.21
7.39
22.91
31.86
18.67
Peoria
(4.4%)
(13.7%) (19.1%)
(1.2%)
(4.1%)
(12.8%) (17.9%) (10.5%)
4.75
32.05
29.5
1.41
5.61
17.21
23.78
13.89
Rockford
(3.1%)
(20.9%) (19.2%)
(0.9%)
(3.7%)
(11.2%) (15.5%)
(9%)
4.48
2.96
18.26
1.71
6.72
12.03
20.35
11.01
Springfield
(3.9%)
(2.6%)
(16%)
(1.5%)
(5.9%)
(10.6%) (17.9%)
(9.7%)
217.91
579.62
1203.2
98.93
379.11
924.43
908.82
589.52
IL
(3.6%)
(9.7%)
(20.1%)
(1.6%)
(6.3%)
(15.4%) (15.1%)
(9.8%)
* The Illinois Department of Employment Security does not collect sector employment data for Metro-East
3.84
(4.1%)
3.25
(3%)
174.61
(4.3%)
7.63
(4.2%)
2.14
(4.2%)
1.71
(3.8%)
7.8
(4.4%)
8.84
(5.8%)
6.47
(5.7%)
256.6
(4.3%)
Government
(GOV)
15.45
(16.5%)
36.55
(33.3%)
480.69
(11.7%)
25.85
(14.2%)
5.57
(10.9%)
6.81
(15%)
21.66
(12.1%)
16.73
(10.9%)
30.09
(26.4%)
832.85
(13.9%)
Total non-farm Employment growth rate Jan 1990 – February 2016
160.00
150.00
IL(1)
Bloomington-Normal (2)
Champaign-Urbana-Rantoul (3)
Chicago (4)
Davenport-Rock Island-Moline (5)
Decatur (6)
Kankakee (7)
Peoria (8)
Rockford (9)
Springfield (10)
St.Louis (11)
140.00
130.00
120.00
110.00
100.00
90.00
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
MSA DESCRIPTION: Bloomington-Normal (B-N): McLean Co.Champaign-Urbana (C-U-R): Champaign Co.,
Ford Co. & Piatt Co. Chicago: Cook Co. IL, DeKalb Co. IL, DuPage Co. IL, Grundy Co. IL, Kane Co. IL, Kendall Co.
IL, Lake Co. IL, McHenry Co. IL, Will Co. IL & Kenosha Co. WI Davenport-Moline-Rock Island (D-R-M): Henry
Co. IL, Mercer Co. IL, Rock Island Co. IL & Scott Co. IA Decatur: Macon Co.Kankakee: Kankakee Co. Metro-East:
Bond Co., Calhoun Co., Clinton Co., Jersey Co., Macoupin Co., Madison Co., Monroe Co. & St. Clair Co. Peoria-Pekin
(Peoria): Marshall Co., Peoria Co., Stark Co., Tazewell Co. & Woodford Co.Rockford: Boone Co. & Winnebago Co.
Springfield: Menard Co. &SangamonCo.The MSA data (unless noted) were seasonally adjusted to be consistent with state
totals.
Illinois Jobs Index: MSA REPORT
release 3/29/2016
www.real.illinois.edu
page 4
Employment Forecast for MSAs
MSAs
Number of
Jobs *
Growth Rate %
Growth
94,000
400 ~ 500
0.37%~ 0.49%
+
GOV (3.25%)
INF (-7.85%)
109,700
109,400
-400~50
-
EDU (1.87%)
MAN (-3.38%)
February
2016*
February
2017 (p)*
93,600
BloomingtonNormal
ChampaignUrbana-Rantoul
Sector with
Lowest
Growth Rate
(p)
Sector with
Highest
Growth
Rate
(p)
-0.34%~0.04%
Chicago
4,101,600
4,170,700
69,200~115,100
1.69%~2.81%
+
CON (8.31%)
INF (-2.51%)
Davenport-Rock
Island-Moline
181,700
181,400
-300~ 100
-0.16%~ 0.05%
-
EDU (1.49%)
INF (-3.44%)
Decatur
51,000
49,900
-1,100~-900
-
CON (1.12%)
INF (-6.48%)
Kankakee
45,400
45,600
300~500
0.61%~ 1.03%
+
INF (3.84%)
PRO (-2.80%)
Peoria
178,300
178,300
0~100
-0.02%~ 0.03%
-
LEI (7.25%)
PRO (-16.02%)
Rockford
153,700
154,900
1,200~1,900
0.80%~1.26%
+
EDU (2.76%)
INF (-7.28%)
Springfield
114,000
113,600
-400~200
-0.34%~ 0.22%
-
FIN (2.06%)
INF (-6.91%)
-2.19%~-1.71%
*Total Non-Farm Jobs
Number of Jobs
(in thousands)
105000
Number of Jobs
(in thousands)
Total Non-farm Employment Forecast
Bloomington (BN)
Total Non-farm Employment Forecast
Champaign-Urbana-Rantoul (CU)
120000
100000
115000
95000
110000
90000
105000
85000
80000
100000
75000
95000
70000
90000
65000
60000
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
85000
2016
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2012
2014
2016
Year
Number of Jobs
(in thousands)
4400000
Number of Jobs
(in thousands)
195000
Total Non-farm Employment Forecast
Chicago (CHI)
Year
Total Non-farm Employment Forecast
Davenport-Rock-Island-Moline (DRM)
190000
4200000
185000
4000000
180000
3800000
175000
170000
3600000
165000
3400000
160000
3200000
155000
3000000
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
150000
2016
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
Year
Illinois Jobs Index: MSA REPORT
Year
release 3/29/2016
www.real.illinois.edu
page 5
Number of Jobs
(in thousands)
62000
Number of Jobs
(in thousands)
50000
Total Non-farm Employment Forecast
Decatur (DE)
Total Non-farm Employment Forecast
Kankakee (KA)
48000
60000
46000
58000
44000
56000
42000
54000
40000
52000
38000
50000
36000
48000
34000
46000
32000
44000
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
30000
2016
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
Year
Year
Number of Jobs
(in thousands)
200000
Total Non-farm Employment Forecast
Peoria (PE)
Number of Jobs
(in thousands)
170000
Total Non-farm Employment Forecast
Rockford (RO)
165000
190000
160000
180000
155000
170000
150000
160000
145000
150000
140000
135000
140000
130000
130000
125000
120000
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
120000
2016
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
Year
Number of Jobs
(in thousands)
120000
Year
Total Non-farm Employment Forecast
Springfield (SP)
118000
116000
114000
112000
110000
108000
106000
104000
102000
100000
98000
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
Year
Illinois Jobs Index: MSA REPORT
release 3/29/2016
www.real.illinois.edu
page 6