Chicago Area Economic Summary
Updated June 28, 2017
This summary presents a sampling of economic information for the area; supplemental data are provided for regions
and the nation. Subjects include unemployment, employment, wages, prices, spending, and benefits. All data are
not seasonally adjusted and some may be subject to revision. Area definitions may differ by subject. For more area
summaries and geographic definitions, see www.bls.gov/regions/economic-summaries.htm.
Average weekly wages for all industries by county
Unemployment rates for the Chicago area,
selected area counties, and the nation
Chicago area, 4th quarter 2016
(U.S. = $1,067; Area = $1,181)
Unemployment rates
4.5
United States
4.1
5.3
Chicago area
4.1
5.6
Cook Co., IL
4.3
4.4
DuPage Co., IL
3.3
4.5
Kenosha Co.,
WI
3.3
6.0
Lake Co., IN
4.0
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
May-16
May-17
Source: U.S. BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics.
Source: U.S. BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
Over-the-year changes in employment on nonfarm payrolls and employment by major industry sector
12-month percent changes in employment
Chicago area employment
(numbers in thousands)
Percent
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
May-14
Chicago area
United States
May-15
May-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
May-17
Total nonfarm
Mining and logging
Construction
Manufacturing
Trade, transportation, and utilities
Information
Financial activities
Professional and business services
Education and health services
Leisure and hospitality
Other services
Government
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
•
May
2017
4,698.7
1.6
175.8
413.0
936.9
83.6
306.3
823.8
729.0
476.9
195.7
556.1
Change from May
2016 to May 2017
Number
Percent
34.4
0.0
2.2
-2.4
-2.7
2.8
8.9
10.9
10.7
-0.3
1.3
3.0
0.7
0.0
1.3
-0.6
-0.3
3.5
3.0
1.3
1.5
-0.1
0.7
0.5
Over-the-year changes in the selling prices received by
producers for selected industries nationwide
Over-the-year change in the prices paid by urban
consumers for selected categories
12-month percent change in CPI-U, May 2017
6.0
6.0
5.4
Chicago area
U.S. city average
General freight trucking
Hospitals
Air transportation
2.0
0.0
1.8
-2.0
1.9
-4.0
0.9
-6.0
0.4
0.0
12-month percent changes in PPI
4.0
3.9
4.0
2.0
Percent
All Items
Food
-8.0
Energy
-10.0
May-14
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Price Index.
Average annual spending and percent distribution for
selected categories
Chicago area average annual expenditures 2014-15
May-15
Healthcare
$4,843
7.6%
Personal
insurance &
pensions
$7,357
11.5%
Food
$7,926
12.4%
Transportation
$9,908
15.6%
Total:
$63,697
Employer costs per hour worked for wages and
selected employee benefits by geographic division
Total compensation
Wages and salaries
Total benefits
Paid leave
Vacation
Supplemental pay
Insurance
Retirement and savings
Legally required benefits
United
States
$25.63
$23.86
Lawyers
64.70
67.25
Financial managers
64.05
67.17
Accountants and auditors
38.02
36.89
Police and sheriff's patrol officers
36.59
30.17
Registered nurses
35.86
34.70
Construction laborers
28.24
18.22
Computer user support specialists
26.83
25.53
Cargo and freight agents
19.15
21.27
Customer service representatives
18.52
16.91
Retail salespersons
13.39
13.07
Parking lot attendants
12.25
11.18
Cooks, fast food
10.05
9.89
Source: U.S. BLS, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2016.
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Private industry, March 2017
Chicago area
Total, all occupations
Housing
$21,964
34.5%
May-17
Average hourly wages for selected occupations
Occupation
All other
$11,699
18.4%
May-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Producer Price Index.
East North
Central (1)
$30.80
21.39
9.41
2.12
1.16
0.88
2.75
1.22
2.44
(1) East North Central includes IL, IN, MI, OH, and WI.
Source: U.S. BLS, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation.
United
States
$33.11
23.06
10.06
2.30
1.18
1.17
2.65
1.34
2.60
Over-the-year changes in wages and salaries
Percent
3.5
12-month percent changes in ECI
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
Mar-14
Chicago area
Mar-15
Source: U.S. BLS, Employment Cost Index.
Midwest Information Office • [email protected] • https://www.bls.gov/regions/midwest/ • 312-353-1880
United States
Mar-16
Mar-17