Agencies
Services
Announcement – Thursday, June 26, 2025
Unemployment Down in All 12 Metro Areas for May
Chicago Metro Achieves 11 Consecutive Months of Year-over-Year Job Growth, with Continued Gains in Champaign, Elgin, and Springfield
Contact: Rebeca Cisco | 217-524-1219 | PDF Version
SPRINGFIELD – The unemployment rate decreased in all twelve metro areas for the year ending May 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 four metropolitan areas, leading to consecutive months with year-over-year growth: Champaign (4 consecutive months); Chicago (11 consecutive months); Elgin (9 consecutive months); Springfield (19 consecutive months).
“With every metro area experiencing a year-over-year decrease in their unemployment rates, coupled with significant consecutive months of payroll jobs gains in four of our areas across the state, the Illinois economy continues to showcase stability and resilience,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “We remain committed to ensuring vital investments in workforce development opportunities that encourage and create new and growing economic activity across the state.”
The metro areas which posted the largest over-the-year decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA (IL Section) (-2.8%, -2,500), the Kankakee MSA (-1.8%, -800), the Bloomington MSA (-1.7%, -1,600), and the Decatur MSA (-1.7%, -800). The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Champaign-Urbana MSA (+3.0%, +3,500), the Chicago Metro Division (+0.5%, +17,400), the Elgin Metro Division (+0.3%, +1,000), and the Springfield MSA (+0.3%, +300). Industries that saw job growth in the majority of the twelve metro areas included: Private Education and Health Services (ten areas); Mining and Construction and Financial Activities (seven areas each).
The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were the Champaign-Urbana MSA (-1.0 point to 3.2%), the Elgin Metropolitan Division (-0.9 point to 3.6%), and the Lake County Metro Division (-0.9 point to 3.6%). The Chicago Metro Division reported a decrease of -0.2 point to 4.9%.
Unemployment Rates (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - See PDF
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - May 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.