Orland Park Unemployment Rate Drops Lower Than Nearby Towns
In the south suburbs, the unemployment rate dropped from August to September this year and is generally below the state average, according to data released last week. Orland Park's rate is even lower than county, state and national averages.
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Orland Park experienced a drop in recorded unemployment to 6.5 percent in Sept. 2012, close to a two percent drop since Sept. 2011, resulting in the lowest rate among neighboring towns, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
The unemployment rate in Illinois is still above 8 percent, though most communities saw a decrease in out-of-work residents in September 2012, according to new figures released last week. In September, local unemployment rates fell in every metro area compared to last year.
"This month's report highlights that we have made steady progress in lowering the unemployment rate, but more needs to be done," IDES Director Jay Rowell said in a news release. "Hiring managers need to see consistent, long-term tax policy and spending priorities by the federal government before we will see stronger hiring increases."
IDES generally reports unemployment figures for municipalities with populations of 25,000 or more people. The numbers measure unemployment for residents who live in a certain town, not those who work in the town.
Statewide the unemployment rate dropped from 8.9 percent in August 2012 to 8.1 percent in September. Compared to September 2011, unemployment in Illinois has dropped 1.7 percent.
Although fewer people are out of work in Illinois as of late, the rate still lags behind the national average of 7.6 percent unemployment. Illinois saw slightly larger gains in the last month, though, with a .9 percent drop compared to .6 percent nationally.
SOUTHLAND
| Sept. 2012 | Aug. 2012 | Sept. 2011 | % Change Over Month | % Change Over Year | |
| Chicago Heights | 11.2 | 12.8 | 16 | -1.6 | -4.8 |
| Evergreen Park | 8.4 | 9.4 | 11.4 | -1 | -3 |
| Oak Forest | 7.5 | 8.8 | 9.4 | -1.3 | -1.9 |
| Oak Lawn | 7.9 | 8.9 | 10.3 | -1 | -2.4 |
| Orland Park | 6.5 | 7.3 | 8.4 | -0.8 | -1.9 |
| Tinley Park | 6.8 | 7.6 | 8.5 | -0.8 | -1.7 |
| Cook County | 8.5 | 9.3 | 10.7 | -0.8 | -2.2 |
| Will County | 7.7 | 8.5 | 9.9 | -0.8 | -2.2 |
| Illinois | 8.1 | 8.9 | 9.8 | -0.8 | -1.7 |
| U.S. Average | 7.6 | 8.2 | 8.8 | -0.6 | -1.2 |
CHICAGO
| Sept. 2012 | Aug. 2012 | Sept. 2011 | % Change Over Month | % Change Over Year | |
| Chicago | 9.4 | 10.3 | 11.9 | -0.9 | -2.5 |
| Cook County | 8.5 | 9.3 | 10.7 | -0.8 | -2.2 |
| Illinois | 8.1 | 8.9 | 9.8 | -0.8 | -1.7 |
| U.S. Average | 7.6 | 8.2 | 8.8 | -0.6 | -1.2 |
OAK PARK/FOREST PARK
| Sept. 2012 | Aug. 2012 | Sept. 2011 | % Change Over Month | % Change Over Year | |
| Oak Park | 6.2 | 7.1 | 7.9 | -0.9 | -1.7 |
| Chicago | 9.4 | 10.3 | 11.9 | -0.9 | -2.5 |
| Cook County | 8.5 | 9.3 | 10.7 | -0.8 | -2.2 |
| Illinois | 8.1 | 8.9 | 9.8 | -0.8 | -1.7 |
| U.S. Average | 7.6 | 8.2 | 8.8 | -0.6 | -1.2 |
DUPAGE
| Sept. 2012 | Aug. 2012 | Sept. 2011 | % Change Over Month | % Change Over Year | |
| Bolingbrook (DuPage portion) | 7.2 | 8.1 | 8.7 | -0.9 | -1.5 |
| Downers Grove | 6.4 | 6.9 | 7.5 | -0.5 | -1.1 |
| Elmhurst | 6.1 | 6.8 | 7.2 | -0.7 | -1.1 |
| Glen Ellyn | 5.8 | 6.5 | 7.7 | -0.7 | -1.9 |
| Naperville (DuPage portion) | 6.3 | 6.9 | 7.5 | -0.6 | -1.2 |
| St. Charles (DuPage portion) | 2.4 | 4.3 | 8.5 | -1.9 | -6.1 |
| Wheaton | 6.0 | 6.6 | 7.6 | -0.6 | -1.6 |
| Woodridge | 7.0 | 7.7 | 8.8 | -0.7 | -1.8 |
| DuPage County | 6.5 | 7.2 | 8.1 | -0.7 | -1.6 |
| Illinois | 8.1 | 8.9 | 9.8 | -0.8 | -1.7 |
| U.S. Average | 7.6 | 8.2 | 8.8 | -0.6 | -1.2 |
KENDALL/WEST WILL
| Sept. 2012 | Aug. 2012 | Aug. 2011 | % Change Over Month | % Change Over Year | |
| Bolingbrook (Will County portion) | 7.5 | 8.4 | 9.4 | -0.9 | -1.9 |
| Joliet | 9.5 | 10.5 | 12.0 | -1.0 | -2.5 |
| Naperville (Will County portion) | 6.5 | 7.3 | 8.4 | -0.8 | -1.9 |
| Oswego | 6.7 | 7.9 | 8.0 | -1.2 | -1.3 |
| Plainfield | 6.4 | 6.9 | 8.4 | -0.5 | -2.0 |
| Romeoville | 7.9 | 8.6 | 9.4 | -0.7 | -1.5 |
| Kendall County | 6.6 | 7.6 | 8.4 | -1.0 | -1.8 |
| Will County | 7.7 | 8.5 | 9.9 | -0.8 | -2.2 |
| Illinois | 8.1 | 8.9 | 9.8 | -0.8 | -1.7 |
| U.S. Average | 7.6 | 8.2 | 8.8 | -0.6 | -1.2 |
KANE
| Sept. 2012 | Aug. 2012 | Sept. 2011 | % Change Over Month | % Change Over Year | |
| Batavia | 6.7 | 7.6 | 7.8 | -0.9 | -1.1 |
| St. Charles (Kane County portion) | 6.0 | 6.9 | 8.1 | -0.9 | -2.1 |
| Kane County | 7.3 | 8.1 | 9.3 | -0.8 | -2.0 |
| Illinois | 8.1 | 8.9 | 9.8 | -0.8 | -1.7 |
| U.S. Average | 7.6 | 8.2 | 8.8 | -0.6 | -1.2 |
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Alan Perkaus
7:22 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Nice charts. They do lack a couple of columns of info, such as The number who have dropped off the unemployment rolls due to expiration of benefits and those hired but working way below their former positions. I wonder what the rate would be then?
With the state having so much debt and the lowest credit rating in the nation companies have left the state and new ones won't come here. Not a good thing, especially when the Pres. comes from here. The out look for Illinois is not very good at this time.
Steve
7:31 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I agree with Alan, many people are working part time and at wage levels that make living in Illinois very difficult.
Dean Casper
6:37 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Alan, the number you are asking for is called the U6 rate. This rate takes into consideration the unemployed, the underemployed, and those who left the workforce all together. It is estiamted the National U6 number is 17%.
Jacqueline Eide
3:15 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
I agree with Alan. Comments made in the news also reflect that unemployment lowers but they never tell us how many people had their benefits expire.
I've been out of work for 9 weeks and am single and this isn't pretty. I live in Tinley Park and worked in Naperville for 7-1/2 yrs. So where are these jobs in Orland Park that we don't know about??