Unemployment rates spiked in seven of Illinois' 12 metro areas in January compared to last year. DeKalb County's rate rose to 9.6 percent this year. The rate for the Rockford metro area fell slightly, to 13 percent.
According to a release from the Illinois Department of Employment Security, January local unemployment rates increased in seven of 12 metro areas, decreased in three, and were unchanged in two compared to last year. The data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). Not seasonally adjusted data compares January 2013 to January 2012. Largest increases were in: Decatur MSA (+2.9 points to 14.0 percent), the Danville MSA (+0.9 point to 11.8 percent), and the Peoria MSA (+0.9 point to 10.0 percent). The Chicago-Joliet-Naperville Metropolitan Division rate was +0.4 point to 9.9 percent.
Jobs were added in six metro areas, declined in four and were unchanged in two. The largest increases were in: Champaign-Urbana (+2.6 percent, +2,600), Rockford (+2.0 percent, +2,800) and Chicago-Joliet-Naperville (+1.6 percent, +56,700). Industry sectors increasing in the most metro areas were Educational and Health Services (10 of 12), Financial Activities (eight of 12), Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (seven of 12), and Leisure and Hospitality (seven of 12).