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Announcement – Thursday, August 21, 2025
Unemployment Down in All 12 Metro Areas for July
Chicago Metro Achieves 13 Consecutive Months of Year-over-Year Job Growth, Continued Gains in Champaign, Springfield
Contact: Rebeca Cisco | 217-524-1219 | PDF Version
SPRINGFIELD – For the second month in-a-row, the unemployment rate decreased in all twelve metro areas for the year ending July 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 five metropolitan areas, leading to consecutive months with year-over-year growth: Champaign (6 consecutive months); Chicago (13 consecutive months); Springfield (21 consecutive months).
“Illinois continues to showcase the resiliency of our economy, with unemployment declining across all twelve metro areas for the second month in a row and consecutive months of job gains in Champaign, Chicago, and Springfield,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “The state remains committed to workforce development programs and resources that ensure communities across Illinois can fully benefit from them.”
The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Springfield MSA (+1.7%, +1,900), and a tie between the Champaign-Urbana MSA (+1.1%, +1,300) and the Rockford MSA (+1.1%, +1,600). The Chicago-Metro Division also increased (+0.7%, +26,300). The metro areas which posted the largest over-the-year percentage decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Peoria MSA (-1.7%, -2,900), the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA, IL Section (-1.5%, -1,300), and the Bloomington MSA (-1.3%, -1,200). Industries that saw job growth in the majority of the twelve metro areas included: Private Education and Health Services (twelve areas); Government (nine areas), and Mining and Construction (seven areas).
The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate increases were the Chicago-Metropolitan Division (-0.9 point to 5.1%) and a tie between the Kankakee MSA (-0.8 point to 5.1%), the Rockford MSA (-0.8 point to 5.1%), and the St. Louis MSA, IL Section (-0.8 point to 4.2%).
Unemployment Rates (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - See PDF
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - July 2025 - See PDF
About the Department of Employment Security
The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) provides vital employment services to Illinois workers, jobseekers, and employers with resources including Job Fairs, IllinoisJobLink.com, and WorkShare IL, analyzes and disseminates actionable Labor Market Information, and administers the Unemployment Insurance Program. To see the full range of services provided by IDES, and for the latest news concerning the department, visit IDES.Illinois.gov.