For Immediate Release – January 30, 2025
Unemployment Down in Most Metro Areas in December
Unemployment Rates (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
| Metropolitan Area | December 2024* | December 2023** | Over-the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 3.7% | 3.7% | 0.0 |
| Carbondale-Marion | 3.7% | 4.1% | -0.4 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 3.3% | 3.9% | -0.6 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights | 4.3% | 3.8% | 0.5 |
| Danville | 5.4% | 5.4% | 0.0 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 4.5% | 3.9% | 0.6 |
| Decatur | 5.3% | 5.7% | -0.4 |
| Elgin | 4.6% | 5.0% | -0.4 |
| Kankakee | 5.0% | 5.8% | -0.8 |
| Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI | 4.3% | 4.7% | -0.4 |
| Peoria | 4.8% | 4.7% | 0.1 |
| Rockford | 4.9% | 5.9% | -1.0 |
| Springfield | 3.9% | 4.0% | -0.1 |
| St. Louis (IL-Section) | 3.5% | 4.0% | -0.5 |
| Illinois Statewide | 4.3% | 4.2% | 0.1 |
| * Preliminary I ** Revised |
SPRINGFIELD – Over-the-year, the unemployment rate decreased in nine areas, increased in three and was unchanged in two for the year ending December 2024, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES). Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs increased in six metropolitan areas, decreased in five, and was unchanged or nearly unchanged in three.
“The Illinois labor force continues to see growth as payroll jobs remain steady and the market is ripe with employment opportunities across industry sectors,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “IDES is focused on providing the critical job matching services to employers and businesses who are eager to take advantage of the state’s economy.”
The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Champaign-Urbana MSA (+3.7%, +4,600), the Carbondale-Marion MSA (+1.9%, +1,100), and the Springfield MSA (+1.7%, +1,800). The metro areas which posted the largest over-the-year decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Peoria MSA (-1.2%, -2,000), the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (-0.9%, -1,700), and the Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI Metro (-0.8%, -3,600). Total nonfarm jobs were unchanged or nearly unchanged in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metropolitan Division, the Danville MSA and the IL part of the St. Louis MSA. Industries that saw job growth in most of the metro areas included: Private Education and Health Services (fourteen areas); Government (twelve areas); and Other Services (eleven areas).
The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were the Rockford MSA (-1.0 percentage point to 4.9%), the Kankakee MSA (-0.8 point to 5.0%), and the Champaign MSA (-0.6 point to 3.3%). The metro areas with unemployment rate increases were the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (+0.6 point to 4.5%), the Chicago Metro Division (+0.5 point to 4.3%), and the Peoria MSA (+0.1 point to 4.8%). There was no unemployment rate change in the Bloomington and Danville MSAs.
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – December 2024
| Metropolitan Area | December | December | Over-the-Year |
| 2024* | 2023** | Change | |
| Bloomington MSA | 100,200 | 100,500 | -300 |
| Carbondale-Marion MSA | 60,300 | 59,200 | 1,100 |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 127,400 | 122,800 | 4,600 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division | 3,835,600 | 3,837,500 | -1,900 |
| Danville MSA | 26,800 | 26,800 | 0 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA | 181,600 | 183,300 | -1,700 |
| Decatur MSA | 47,900 | 47,700 | 200 |
| Elgin Metro Division | 265,600 | 265,900 | -300 |
| Kankakee MSA | 44,000 | 43,600 | 400 |
| Lake-County-Kenosha County Metro Division | 421,000 | 424,600 | -3,600 |
| Peoria MSA | 169,900 | 171,900 | -2,000 |
| Rockford MSA | 148,600 | 146,800 | 1,800 |
| Springfield MSA | 109,800 | 108,000 | 1,800 |
| Illinois Section of St. Louis MSA | 244,500 | 244,600 | -100 |
| Illinois Statewide | 6,190,200 | 6,144,300 | 45,900 |
| *Preliminary | **Revised |
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas
| Labor Market Area | Dec 2024 | Dec 2023 | Over-the-Year Change | ||
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | |||||
| Champaign County | 3.2% | 3.9% | -0.7 | ||
| Ford County | 3.6% | 3.8% | -0.2 | ||
| Piatt County | 3.1% | 3.6% | -0.5 | ||
| Danville MSA | |||||
| Vermilion County | 5.4% | 5.4% | 0.0 | ||
| Cities | |||||
| Champaign City | 3.3% | 3.9% | -0.6 | ||
| Urbana City | 3.3% | 4.0% | -0.7 | ||
| Danville City | 6.4% | 6.4% | 0.0 | ||
| Counties | |||||
| Clark County | 4.3% | 5.0% | -0.7 | ||
| Coles County | 3.5% | 4.0% | -0.5 | ||
| Cook County | 4.5% | 4.0% | 0.5 | ||
| De Witt County | 4.2% | 4.1% | 0.1 | ||
| Douglas County | 3.0% | 3.2% | -0.2 | ||
| Edgar County | 3.4% | 3.5% | -0.1 | ||
| Iroquois County | 3.9% | 4.5% | -0.6 | ||
| McLean County | 3.6% | 3.6% | 0.0 | ||
| Macon County | 5.3% | 5.7% | -0.4 | ||
| Moultrie County | 3.2% | 3.7% | -0.5 | ||
| Sangamon County | 3.9% | 4.0% | -0.1 | ||
| Shelby County | 4.0% | 4.5% | -0.5 | ||
| Other Areas | |||||
| LWIA 17 | 3.3% | 3.9% | -0.6 | ||
| LWIA 18 | 5.4% | 5.4% | 0.0 | ||
| East Central EDR | 3.7% | 4.1% | -0.4 | ||
East Central Illinois Highlights
Champaign-Urbana MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.3 percent in December 2024 decreased from 3.9 percent in December 2023.
Over-the-year, nonfarm employment increased by +4,600.
Employment increased in the Government (+4,600), Private Education-Health Services (+200), Other Services (+100) and Retail Trade (+100) sectors.
Payrolls were unchanged in Information, Leisure-Hospitality, Manufacturing, Mining-Construction, Wholesale Trade and Financial Activities.
Payroll employment decreased in Professional-Business Services (-300) and Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (-100) between December 2024 and December 2023.
Danville MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 5.4 percent in December 2024 was unchanged from December 2023.
Nonfarm employment of 26,800 in December 2024 was unchanged from December 2023.
Employment increased in the Government (+300), Private Education-Health Services (+100) and Financial Activities (+100) sectors.
Payrolls were unchanged in Information, Leisure-Hospitality, Mining-Construction, Other Services, Professional-Business Services, Retail Trade, Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities and Wholesale Trade.
Payroll employment decreased in Manufacturing (-500) between December 2024 and December 2023.
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