Decatur unemployment rate increases to 17.7%

Data released from the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) shows that the unemployment rate in Decatur rose from 4.6% in March to 17.7% in April.  The city’s April unemployment rate is above the state’s unemployment rate of 16.9% and U.S. unemployment rate of 14.4%.  The number of employed individuals in Decatur decreased 19% from 27,879 in March to 22,604 in April (and has decreased 23% since February with 6,572 fewer employed individuals). 

The city is likely experiencing the lowest number of employed individuals in at least 45 years.  Using annual data from the IDES between 1974-2019, the number of employed individuals ranged from 40,932 in 1977 to 29,979 in 2019.  Given that the Illinois’ stay-at-home order was initiated in mid-March, and the Restore Illinois Phase 3 plan began on May 29, the number of employed individuals in Decatur will likely further decline in May.   

JOB LISTINGS IN THE DECATUR AREA DECREASED 57% BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND APRIL

Each month, the Economic and Community Development Department records the number of job listings in the Decatur area as reported by Indeed.com. There were 1,385 job listings in the February report compared to 522 job listings in the March report, and 590 job listings in the April report, a decrease of 57% over a two-month period.  Job listings did increase 12% between March and April.