JOBS
The Illinois unemployment rate is up again in August. The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced Thursday that nonfarm payrolls were up +800 while the unemployment rate increased +0.1 percentage point to 5.3 percent in August, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and released by IDES. The July monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from +12,900 to +10,300 jobs, while the revised unemployment rate was 5.2 percent, unchanged from the preliminary July unemployment rate. The August payroll jobs estimate and unemployment rate reflect activity for the week including the 12th.
In August, the industry sectors with the largest over-the-month job gains included: Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,300), Construction (+2,200), and Financial Activities (+1,600). The industry sectors with the largest monthly payroll job declines included: Leisure and Hospitality (-2,900), Professional and Business Services (-1,600), and Other Services (-1,500).
The state’s unemployment rate was +1.1 percentage points higher than the national unemployment rate reported for August. The national unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in August, down -0.1 percentage point from the previous month. The Illinois unemployment rate was up +0.7 percentage point from a year ago when it was 4.6 percent.
Compared to a year ago, total nonfarm payroll jobs increased by +36,300 jobs. The industry groups with the largest jobs increases included: Government (+35,600), Private Education and Health Services (+26,100), and Other Services (+11,200). The industry groups with the largest jobs decreases included: Professional and Business Services (-27,800), Financial Activities (-5,400), and Information (-4,400). In August, total nonfarm payrolls were up +0.6 percent over-the-year in Illinois and up +1.5 percent in the nation.
The number of unemployed workers was 343,100, up +0.4 percent from the prior month, and up +15.7 percent over the same month one year ago. The labor force was almost unchanged (0.0 percent) over-the-month and up +1.2 percent over- the-year. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment. An individual who exhausts or is ineligible for benefits is still reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.
STATE GOVERNMENT
Many DMV offices to change their operating hours. Persons with concerns related to drivers’ licenses are asked to contact the DMV within the Secretary of State’s office. These DMV offices handle a wide variety of standard and commercial drivers’ license concerns, including initial drivers’ licensing, commercial drivers’ licensing, license renewals, and upgrading an existing license into a REAL-ID-compliant license. Traditionally, many of these DMV offices throughout Illinois have opened at 8:00 a.m., and have closed at 5:30 p.m.
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced this week that most of these DMV offices will change their times of operation. The change will move their opening and closing hours backward in time by half an hour, and the offices that make this change will open at 7:30 a.m. and will close at 5:00 pm. The change will start to be effective in the work week starting Monday, September 23. The change is said to be a response to Illinois customer demand.
Most Illinois residents who are eligible for DMV visits related to drivers’ licenses are strongly encouraged to make reservations ahead of time for a time slot at their local DMV office. However, many standard services oriented towards motor vehicles, their unique identification, and their licensing and taxation – headed by license plate sticker renewal, vehicle titling, and vehicle registration – do not require a DMV appointment.
ILLINOIS STATE FAIR
Illinois State Fair sets another attendance record. The organizers of the Illinois State Fair, held in Springfield in mid-August, say that 773,000 persons entered the Fairgrounds from August 8 through August 18, 2024. This marked a record high in verifiable attendance numbers for the annual event. State Fair attendance had been 708,000 in 2023.
Fair managers credited a lineup of musical stars at the Illinois State Fair’s Grandstand, including Keith Urban, the Jonas Brothers, and the Smashing Pumpkins, for driving a significant proportion of the new visitors. The 2025 Illinois State Fair will be held on August 7 through August 17, 2025.
AGRICULTURE
Report shows Illinois harvest continues. Warm, dry weather conditions across much of Illinois are bringing harvesting equipment into the fields. While the average corn maturity condition in mid-September is 40%, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that as of mid-September of 2024, the corn maturity percentage was 63%. Furthermore, 77% of the corn was rated at “good” or “excellent.”
Illinois soybean conditions were very similar, with 72% of the crop rated at “good” or “excellent,” and 62% of the beans having begun to drop their leaves. The is double the usual frequency of leaf drop in an Illinois mid-September. The 2024 harvest year is seeing some of the earliest bean-cutting activities in our state’s crop history.