News Item
09.27.2016
Local Employment Trends August 2016
The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) released preliminary August 2016 labor market estimates for municipalities across the state based on the current population survey (or “household survey”). The following brief summarizes this data, as well as IDES’ estimates of jobs by industry based on the Current Employment Statistics Program (or “employer survey”).
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY
- Chicago’s labor force expanded (+17,640) from 1,367,076 in August 2015 to 1,384,716 in August 2016, suggesting that more residents are actively looking for work.
- The number of employed Chicago (city) residents increased by 19,769 compared to the year prior, from 1,279,930 in August 2015 to an estimated 1,299,699 in August 2016.
- Unemployed Chicago (city) residents decreased by -2,129 compared to the year prior from 87,146 in August 2015 to an estimated 85,017 in August 2016.
- These factors resulted in a preliminary unemployment rate of 6.1 percent in August 2016 before seasonal adjustment, down 0.3 percentage points from the August 2015 rate.
EMPLOYER SURVEY
According to payroll job estimates from IDES, private sector employers located in the city of Chicago have added an estimated 12,016 jobs since August 2015. The largest gains were in the leisure and hospitality (+5,655), professional and business services (+3,018), and construction (+1,607) sectors.
The following table summarizes private employer payroll estimates. Data is not seasonally adjusted.
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