Five Illinois Metro Areas Add Jobs Over The Year In June

SPRINGFIELD – Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs increased in 5 metropolitan areas, including seven consecutive months of year-over-year job growth for Lake County, and decreased in 7 metropolitan areas. Over-the-year, the unemployment rate increased in 11 metro areas and was unchanged in 1 for the year ending June 2026, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES).

“Illinois’ economy continues to demonstrate its strength and resilience, with job and employers continuing to invest in our workforce,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “The sustained growth in Lake County, along with gains in Chicago, Peoria and Champaign-Urbana, shows that Illinois remains well positioned for long-term success—even as the federal government creates uncertainty and new barriers for businesses and working families. We will continue building on this momentum by investing in workers, supporting businesses, and creating new opportunities that strengthen the economy to ensure every region can thrive.”

The metro areas which posted the largest over-the-year percentage decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Elgin Metro Division (-1.8%, -5,400), followed by a tie between the Rockford MSA (-1.6%, -2,300) and the Springfield MSA (-1.6%, -1,700). The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Peoria MSA (+0.5%, +900), followed by a tie between the Champaign-Urbana MSA (+0.3%, +400), the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg Metro Division (+0.3%, +11,400), and the Lake County Metro Division (+0.3%, +900). Industries that saw job growth in the majority of the twelve metro areas included: Government (10 areas) and Private Education and Health Services (8 areas).

The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate increases were the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg Metro Division (+0.8 point to 5.6%), followed by a tie between the Champaign-Urbana MSA (+0.3 point to 4.5%) and the Elgin Metro Division (+0.3 point to 4.4%). The Illinois part of the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA was unchanged over-the-year at 4.5%. The unemployment rate increased over-the-year in 78 counties, decreased in 13, and was unchanged in 11.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – June 2026

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates (percent) for Local Counties and Areas

Southwestern Illinois Highlights

The June 2026 unemployment rate for the Illinois Section of the St. Louis, MO-IL MSA was 4.1 percent. The unemployment rate increased +0.2 percentage point from the June 2025 rate of
3.9 percent.

Total nonfarm employment in the Illinois Section of the St. Louis, MO-IL MSA increased +400 compared to June 2025.

Employers in the Private Education-Health Services (+800), Leisure-Hospitality (+500), Government (+300), Financial Activities (+100) and Other Services (+100) sectors had payroll gains over-the-year.

Employers in the Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (-400), Wholesale Trade (-300), Professional-Business Services (-300), Manufacturing (-200) and Retail Trade (-200) sectors recorded employment declines over-the-year.

The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. A person who exhausts benefits, or is ineligible, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.

Note: Monthly 2025 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2026, as required by the U.S. BLS. Comments and tables distributed for prior metro area news releases should be discarded as any records or historical analysis previously cited may no longer be valid.

Disclaimer: The data contained in the metro area employment numbers press releases are not seasonally adjusted, and therefore are subject to seasonal fluctuations due to factors such as changes in weather, harvests, major holidays and school schedules. Current monthly metro data should be compared to the same month from prior years (January 2026 data compared to January 2025 data) as data for these months have similar seasonal patterns. Comparisons should not be made to data for the immediate previous month or other previous non-matching months, as any changes in the data within these time periods may be the result of seasonal fluctuations and not economic factors.

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