Bureau of Labor Statistics

October unemployment: 8 of 10 Illinois MSA’s unemployment rates rose or experienced no improvement year over year

By John Klingner
12/06/2013
Eight of Illinois’ 10 Metropolitan Statistical Areas, or MSAs, saw their unemployment rates rise or remain stagnant compared to October 2012, according to today’s combined September-October metropolitan area unemployment report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Decatur and Danville regions are still suffering the highest unemployment in the state, with 12.3 percent and...

TAGS: jobs, metro areas, MSA, unemployment

Illinois’ unemployment rate dips below 9 percent in October

By John Klingner
11/22/2013
Illinois’ unemployment rate fell to 8.9 percent in October from 9.2 percent in August, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A total of 4,800 payroll jobs were created between August and October. Today’s BLS report, which included both October and September numbers, was delayed until today due to the government shutdown in October....

TAGS: jobs, unemployment

Lowest labor-force participation rate since 1978

By John Klingner
11/10/2013
The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the national unemployment rate rose in October to 7.3 percent from 7.2 percent one month earlier. There are 11.3 million Americans currently unemployed. The U-6 unemployment rate, which includes all workers who are unemployed or underemployed, rose to 13.8 percent, up from last month’s 13.6 percent. In total,...

TAGS: jobs, labor force participation rate, LFPR, unemployment

Unions take advantage of Illinois’ prevailing wage law

By Paul Kersey
10/28/2013
When a state construction project goes up for bid, a union outfit often ends up with the contract. This is one of the seamier aspects of Illinois government. State laws and common practices for bidding are designed to cover up for union firms’ disadvantages and steer projects their way. The unions are always ready to...

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, IDOL: Illinois Department of Labor, International Union of Operating Engineers, IUOE, prevailing wage

11.3 million Americans remained unemployed in September

By John Klingner
10/23/2013
After nearly a month’s delay due to the federal government’s shutdown, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced yesterday that the national unemployment rate edged down in September to 7.2 percent from 7.3 percent one month earlier. Overall, 11.3 million Americans remain unemployed. The U-6 unemployment rate, which includes all workers who are unemployed or underemployed,...

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment, jobs, unemployment

Illinois’ unemployment rate stalled at 9.2 percent

By John Klingner
10/21/2013
The delay in unemployment reports due to the federal government shutdown has not changed Illinois’ overall gloomy jobs picture. Unemployment is still high in many cities across the state. According to the latest seasonally adjusted unemployment numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, half of Illinois’ Metropolitan Statistical Areas, or MSAs, had unemployment rates...

TAGS: MSA, unemployment

Illinois: nation’s 2nd-highest unemployment rate for sixth straight month

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
09/21/2013
ix months ago, Illinois overtook California to become the state with the second-highest unemployment rate in the nation, behind only Nevada. It hasn’t budged since. Today’s release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics details yet another month of stalled unemployment numbers for Illinois. The state’s August unemployment rate remained at 9.2 percent – 1.9 percentage...

Illinois August unemployment rate remains stalled at 9.2%

By John Klingner
09/19/2013
Tomorrow, Illinois is likely to celebrate its six-month anniversary of having the second-highest unemployment rate in the nation. That’s when the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS, releases its Regional and State Employment and Unemployment report for August. In the meantime, the Illinois Department of Employment Security, or IDES, pre-released some of the BLS data...

Part-time America: National unemployment rate edges down to 7.3 in August

By John Klingner
09/07/2013
The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced today that the national unemployment rate edged down in August to 7.3 percent, down from 7.4 percent one month earlier. Non-farm payroll employment rose by 169,000. Unemployment decreased by 193,000, leaving the total number of unemployed Americans at 11.3 million in August. But there are many Americans suffering from...