Preliminary data also showed the unemployment rate increased over-the-year in all metro areas “As expected, the global, national, and state impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are still very present and the effects continue to linger on the economy and the workforce,” said Deputy Gov. Dan Hynes. “This is why the Pritzker administration is grateful the federal government acted quickly to roll out the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act with critical extensions and program continuity.” The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division, the Elgin Metro Division, and the Kankakee MSA.