Throughout the Chicago area, businesses in sectors such as retail, manufacturing and hospitality report a shortage of job applicants. With a tight labor market spurring competition for front-line and entry level workers, the number of job postings has soared to record levels. Meanwhile, many area employers are boosting wages to attract and retain workers.
Chicago Market Snapshot
FEBRUARY 2022*
JOBS ADDED: +32,000 MoM
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: 4.1%, down from 5.1% in January 2022
WAGE CHANGE: -0.5% YoY
- Nonfarm wage and salary employment in the state of Illinois is up 0.4% from January 2022.
- The leisure and hospitality sector had the largest gain (+85,700) in jobs among the area’s private-industry supersectors.
- The unemployment rate in the U.S. is 3.6% for March 2022, compared to 3.8% in February 2022.
*Most recent data available.
SOURCES
- U.S. BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- Emsi, May 1, 2022
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