April unemployment rate declines to 9.3 pct

April shows job growth over year, loss over month

[May 18, 2013]  CHICAGO -- The April unemployment rate fell to 9.3 percent from 9.5 percent in March, according to preliminary data released Thursday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security. There were 2,000 fewer jobs over the month, yet 40,300 more jobs than one year ago. The data is seasonally adjusted.

"April data reflects the unevenness of this recovery," said IDES Director Jay Rowell said. "The up-and-down movement in the monthly figures masks the 216,000 jobs that have been added during this part of the economic cycle. This uneven path forward likely will continue until consumer and business confidence can be sustained at the national level."

Illinois has added 216,000 private sector jobs since January 2010, when job growth returned following nearly two years of consecutive monthly declines. Since then, the monthly volatility has been significant. When compared with the previous month, Illinois recorded job growth in 27 months and job loss in 13. The unemployment rate increased in seven months, fell in 13 and was unchanged in 10.

Leading growth sectors since January 2010 are professional and business services, up 91,600; education and health services, up 59,600; and trade, transportation and utilities, up 37,600. Government has lost the most jobs since January 2010: down 24,700.

In April 2013, the number of unemployed individuals decreased 18,000, or 2.9 percent, to 611,000. Total unemployed has fallen 141,200, or 18.8 percent, since early 2010, when the state unemployment rate peaked at 11.3 percent for the months of January and February.

The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. Individuals who exhaust their benefit, or are ineligible, will still 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. This includes periods of economic expansion and contraction.

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See statistical tables: "Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates" and "Illinois Seasonally Adjusted Non-farm Jobs – by Major Industry" (PDF)

[Text from Illinois Department of Employment Security file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]