For Release
Unemployment Down, Jobs Up in Majority of Metro Areas in January
SPRINGFIELD – Over-the-year, the unemployment rate decreased in eleven metro areas and increased in one for the year ending January 2025, 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 in one.
“As unemployment decreased over the last year in most metro areas and payroll remains steady, Illinois continues to prioritize region-specific support for jobseekers through local workforce partners,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “Illinois also remains laser-focused on investing in our incomparable workforce and creating a positive business environment to bolster economic opportunity in every corner of the state.”
The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Elgin Metro Division (+2.2%, +6,200), the Peoria MSA (+1.8%, +3,000), and the Rockford MSA (+1.5%, +2,200). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg Metro Division were up +19,000 (+0.5%). The metro areas which posted the largest over-the-year decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Illinois section of the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (-1.1%, -1,000), the Champaign-Urbana MSA (-1.0%, -1,200), and the Decatur MSA (-0.6%, -300). Total nonfarm jobs were unchanged in the Bloomington MSA. Industries that saw job growth in the majority of the twelve metro areas included: Private Education and Health Services (eleven areas); Government (nine areas); and Mining and Construction and Retail Trade (seven areas each).
The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were the Rockford MSA (-1.3 points to 5.8%), the Kankakee MSA (-1.2 points to 6.3%), and the Lake County Metro (-1.1 points to 5.5%). The Chicago Metro Division reported the only increase (+0.3 point to 5.0%).
Unemployment Rates (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
|
Metropolitan Area |
January 2025* |
January 2024** |
Over-
the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 4.0% | 4.1% | -0.1 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 4.0% | 4.7% | -0.7 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg | 5.0% | 4.7% | 0.3 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island (IL Section) |
6.1% |
6.3% |
-0.2 |
| Decatur | 6.0% | 6.7% | -0.7 |
| Elgin | 5.2% | 6.2% | -1.0 |
| Kankakee | 6.3% | 7.5% | -1.2 |
| Lake | 5.5% | 6.6% | -1.1 |
| Peoria | 5.5% | 6.0% | -0.5 |
| Rockford | 5.8% | 7.1% | -1.3 |
| Springfield | 4.6% | 5.0% | -0.4 |
| St. Louis (IL Section) | 4.2% | 4.9% | -0.7 |
| Illinois Statewide | 5.0% | 5.2% | -0.2 |
| * Preliminary I ** Revised | |||
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – January 2025
| Metropolitan Area | January | January | Over-the-Year |
| 2025* | 2024** | Change | |
| Bloomington | 93,200 | 93,200 | 0 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 115,300 | 116,500 | -1,200 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg | 3,739,900 | 3,720,900 | 19,000 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island (IL Section) | 86,000 | 87,000 | -1,000 |
| Decatur | 46,400 | 46,700 | -300 |
| Elgin | 291,000 | 284,800 | 6,200 |
| Kankakee | 42,100 | 42,300 | -200 |
| Lake | 336,900 | 336,700 | 200 |
| Peoria | 170,300 | 167,300 | 3,000 |
| Rockford | 144,800 | 142,600 | 2,200 |
| Springfield | 109,900 | 109,100 | 800 |
| St. Louis (IL Section) | 235,800 | 236,200 | -400 |
| Illinois Statewide | 6,040,500 | 6,002,300 | 38,200 |
| *Preliminary | **Revised | |||
The number and composition of metropolitan statistical areas for each state are determined by federal census data. As a result of data derived from the 2020 federal census, Illinois’ metropolitan statistical areas have shifted from 14 to 12, with the prior metropolitan statistical areas of Carbondale and Danville reclassified as micropolitan statistical areas. Micropolitan statistical area data can be found here.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates (percent) for Local Counties and Areas
|
Labor Market Area |
Jan 2025 |
Jan 2024 |
Over-the- Year Change |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 4.0% | 4.7% | –0.7 |
| Champaign County | 3.9% | 4.7% | -0.8 |
| Ford County | 4.8% | 5.0% | -0.2 |
| Piatt County | 4.0% | 4.4% | -0.4 |
| Danville Area | |||
| Vermilion County | 6.4% | 6.5% | -0.1 |
| Cities | |||
| Champaign City | 3.7% | 4.4% | -0.7 |
| Urbana City | 3.7% | 4.6% | -0.9 |
| Danville City | 7.0% | 7.6% | -0.6 |
| Counties | |||
| Clark County | 5.2% | 6.6% | -1.4 |
| Coles County | 3.8% | 4.3% | -0.5 |
| Cook County | 5.2% | 4.8% | 0.4 |
| De Witt County | 4.5% | 4.9% | -0.4 |
| Douglas County | 3.6% | 3.9% | -0.3 |
| Edgar County | 4.5% | 4.9% | -0.4 |
| Iroquois County | 5.8% | 6.2% | -0.4 |
| McLean County | 4.0% | 4.1% | -0.1 |
| Macon County | 6.0% | 6.7% | -0.7 |
| Moultrie County | 3.7% | 4.2% | -0.5 |
| Sangamon County | 4.6% | 4.9% | -0.3 |
| Shelby County | 4.6% | 5.5% | -0.9 |
| Other Areas | |||
| LWIA 17 | 4.1% | 4.8% | -0.7 |
| LWIA 18 | 6.4% | 6.5% | -0.1 |
| East Central EDR | 4.5% | 5.1% | -0.6 |
East Central Illinois Highlights
Champaign-Urbana MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.0 percent in January 2025 decreased from 4.7 percent in January 2024.
Over-the-year, nonfarm employment decreased by -1,200 to the total of 115,300 jobs.
Employment increased in the Leisure-Hospitality (+900), Retail Trade (+300), Private Education-Health Services (+200), Manufacturing (+100) and Financial Activities (+100) sectors.
Payrolls were unchanged in Mining-Construction, Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities and Wholesale Trade.
Payroll employment decreased in Government (-2,300), Professional-Business Services (-300), Information (-100) and Other Services (-100) between January 2024 and January 2025.
Danville Area–Vermillion County
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 6.4 percent in January 2025 decreased from 6.5 percent in January 2024.
Over-the-year, nonfarm employment decreased by -575 to the total of 25,150 jobs.
Employment increased in the Private Education-Health Services (+350) and Leisure-Hospitality (+150) sectors.
Payrolls were unchanged in Natural Resources-Mining and Financial Activities.
Payroll employment decreased in Trade-Transportation- Utilities (-375), Manufacturing (-300), Professional-Business Services (-175), Government (-125), Construction (-125), Information (-25) and Other Services (-25) between January 2024 and January 2025.
Note: Monthly 2024 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2025, 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 2025 data compared to January 2024 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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