Q-C jobless rate down

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By Jennifer DeWitt | Friday, April 27, 2007 12:03 AM CDT | () comments

For the third consecutive month, the Quad-City monthly unemployment rate turned back the clock nine years, according to state statistics released Thursday for March.

Unemployment in the bi-state area fell to 4.3 percent last month — the lowest level for March since 1998, the Illinois Department of Employment Security and the U.S. Department of Labor reported. The rate was a decrease from last year’s 4.8 percent unemployment and lower than February’s unemployment rate of 4.9 percent.

The statistics show that 8,746 people were unemployed in March, down from 10,000 a month earlier and 9,822 in March 2006. The Quad-City metropolitan statistical area includes Scott County in Iowa and the Illinois counties of Rock Island, Mercer and Henry.

“As we look over the year, we’re still seeing the job gains in manufacturing as well as education/health services,” Tom Austin, an employment security department labor analyst, said. “Health services is an expanding sector in most areas that offers a variety of job opportunities for different levels of work and education experience. That’s a positive sign with such a large expansion.”

In the Quad-Cities, the sector gained 800 jobs over the year, now employing 23,400 as of last month. The sector gained 100 jobs in the past month.

Austin said an expansion of different types of clinics and the addition of new specialties by area hospitals is driving much of the growth. “As we see healthcare offering more services, it typically means they are expanding their employment as well.”

But the education side of the sector also is showing growth with “new schools that are being added due to populations shifts” and the retirements of many longtime educators.

Another sector with strong year-over-year growth was manufacturing, which gained 300 jobs — employing 26,100 Quad-Citians in March. The employment level was flat compared to February.

Austin added that the most significant declines were in the construction field and professional and business services, which is made up largely by staffing agencies. The construction industry lost 200 jobs since a year ago, but gained 100 over the month. It employed 7,300 people in March.

Professional and business services employed 24,500 Quad-Citians in March — down 300 jobs from a year ago and up 100 jobs from February.

“There is a seasonal component and a mix of weather that contributed to changes in the construction industry,’’ he added.

In addition to the sector changes, Austin said the area’s total labor force also declined compared to March, 2006. The labor force numbered 203,351 in March — down 772 people from 204,123 a year ago. It grew by 70 people since February.

According to the employment security agency, all 12 of Illinois’ metropolitan areas reported a decline in unemployment rates in March. The largest decreases were in Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Danville and Decatur. The Chicago area saw its lowest unemployment on record: 4.2 percent.

The largest percentage increases in jobs were in Rockford, Decatur and Champaign-Urbana. Over the year, Illinois employers added a total of 51,200 new jobs. Since January 2004, the state has led the Midwest’s job picture — adding 173,900 new jobs.

Across the statistical area, unemployment ranged from 3.5 percent in Scott County to 6.7 percent in Mercer County. Across the region, it ranged from a low of 4.6 percent in Warren County, Ill., to a high of 5.9 percent in Henderson County, Ill. Rock Island County had 4.7 percent unemployment in March.

Jennifer DeWitt can be contacted at (563) 383-2318 or jdewitt@qctimes.com.