For Immediate Release – August 27, 2026
Unemployment Rate Down for Nearly All Metros in July
Chicago Sets New Record of Jobs for the Month of July
SPRINGFIELD – Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs increased in 4 metropolitan areas, including a record number of jobs for Chicago and eight consecutive months of year-over-year growth for Lake County, and decreased in 8 areas. Over-the-year, the unemployment rate decreased in 11 metro areas and increased in 1 for the year ending July 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 show its resilience, with Chicago reaching a record number of jobs and Lake County marking eight months of job growth in July, even in the face of ongoing instability of federal economic policies,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “These gains reflect the strength of Illinois workers and employers, and we will continue to prioritize investments that strengthen our workforce, support employers, and position Illinois for continued growth.”
The metro areas which posted the largest over-the-year percentage decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Illinois part of the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA (-2.0%, -1,700), followed by a tie between the Elgin MSA (-1.3%, -3,800) and the Springfield MSA (-1.3%, -1,400). The metro areas with the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Decatur MSA (+0.8%, +400), followed by a tie between the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg Metro Division (+0.3%, +10,500), the Lake County Metro Division (+0.3%, +1,200) and the Peoria MSA (+0.3%, +500). Industries that saw job growth in the majority of the twelve metro areas included: Private Education and Health Services (10 areas), Mining and Construction (9 areas), and Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (7 areas).
The metro areas with the largest unemployment decreases were the Illinois part of the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA (-1.5 point to 3.7%), followed by a tie between the Decatur MSA (-1.2 point to 4.9%) and Rockford MSA (-1.2 point to 4.3%). The only metro area with an unemployment rate increase was the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg Metro Division (+0.4 point to 5.2%). The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in 96 counties and increased in 6.
| Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates | |||
|
Metropolitan Area |
July 2026* |
July 2025** |
Over-
the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 3.3% | 4.4% | -1.1 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 3.6% | 4.7% | -1.1 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg | 5.2% | 4.8% | 0.4 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island (IL Section) | 3.7% | 5.2% | -1.5 |
| Decatur | 4.9% | 6.1% | -1.2 |
| Elgin | 3.7% | 4.6% | -0.9 |
| Kankakee | 4.1% | 5.2% | -1.1 |
| Lake | 3.6% | 4.5% | -0.9 |
| Peoria | 3.8% | 4.9% | -1.1 |
| Rockford | 4.3% | 5.5% | -1.2 |
| Springfield | 3.6% | 4.6% | -1.0 |
| St. Louis (IL Section) | 3.5% | 4.5% | -1.0 |
| Illinois Statewide | 4.6% | 4.7% | -0.1 |
| * Preliminary I ** Revised | |||
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – July 2026
| July | July | Over-the-Year | |
| Metropolitan Area | 2026* | 2025** | Change |
| Bloomington | 90,200 | 90,600 | -400 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 114,900 | 115,100 | -200 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg | 3,879,500 | 3,869,000 | 10,500 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island (IL Section) | 84,900 | 86,600 | -1,700 |
| Decatur | 47,700 | 47,300 | 400 |
| Elgin | 290,900 | 294,700 | -3,800 |
| Kankakee | 42,400 | 42,800 | -400 |
| Lake | 348,700 | 347,500 | 1,200 |
| Peoria | 172,700 | 172,200 | 500 |
| Rockford | 143,900 | 144,300 | -400 |
| Springfield | 105,500 | 106,900 | -1,400 |
| St. Louis (IL Section) | 242,800 | 243,600 | -800 |
| Illinois Statewide | 6,203,000 | 6,187,300 | 15,700 |
| *Preliminary | **Revised | |||
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates (percent) for Local Counties and Areas
|
Labor Market Area |
Jul 2026 |
Jul 2025 |
Over-the-Year Change |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 3.6% | 4.7% | –1.1 |
| Champaign County | 3.7% | 4.8% | -1.1 |
| Ford County | 3.6% | 4.8% | -1.2 |
| Piatt County | 3.0% | 4.0% | -1.0 |
| Danville Area | |||
| Vermilion County | 4.6% | 6.1% | -1.5 |
| Cities | |||
| Champaign City | 3.8% | 4.9% | -1.1 |
| Urbana City | 4.1% | 5.3% | -1.2 |
| Danville City | 5.7% | 7.3% | -1.6 |
| Counties | |||
| Clark County | 3.9% | 4.6% | -0.7 |
| Coles County | 3.3% | 4.5% | -1.2 |
| Cook County | 5.4% | 5.0% | 0.4 |
| De Witt County | 3.1% | 3.8% | -0.7 |
| Douglas County | 3.1% | 4.1% | -1.0 |
| Edgar County | 3.6% | 4.2% | -0.6 |
| Iroquois County | 3.7% | 4.7% | -1.0 |
| McLean County | 3.3% | 4.4% | -1.1 |
| Macon County | 4.9% | 6.1% | -1.2 |
| Moultrie County | 2.9% | 4.2% | -1.3 |
| Sangamon County | 3.6% | 4.6% | -1.0 |
| Shelby County | 3.1% | 4.1% | -1.0 |
| Other Areas | |||
| LWIA 17 | 3.6% | 4.7% | -1.1 |
| LWIA 18 | 4.6% | 6.1% | -1.5 |
| East Central EDR | 3.8% | 4.9% | -1.1 |
East Central Illinois Highlights
Champaign-Urbana MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.6 percent in July 2026 decreased from 4.7 percent in July 2025.
Over-the-year, nonfarm employment decreased by -200 to the total of 114,900 jobs.
Employment increased in the Leisure-Hospitality (+400), Mining-Construction (+200), Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+200), Private Education-Health Services (+100) and Manufacturing (+100) sectors.
Payrolls were unchanged in Information and Other Services.
Payroll employment decreased in Government (-400), Retail Trade (-300), Professional-Business Services (-200), Financial Activities (-200) and Wholesale Trade (-100) between July 2025 and July 2026.
Danville Area – Vermilion County
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.6 percent in July 2026 decreased from 6.1 percent in July 2025.
Over-the-year, nonfarm employment increased by +125 to the total of 25,100 jobs.
Employment increased in the Trade-Transportation-Utilities (+300), Private Education-Health Services (+225) and Leisure-Hospitality (+25) sectors.
Payrolls were unchanged in Government and Information.
Payroll employment decreased in Professional-Business Services (-225), Manufacturing (-100), Construction (-25), Other Services (-25) and Financial Activities (-25) between July 2025 and July 2026.
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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