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Now Hiring sign on a lawn (Credit: Ernie Journeys; Unsplash)

Illinois unemployment statistics show decrease in April unemployment rates over the year across eleven metro areas, including Springfield

By Trent R. Nelson May 23, 2025 | 7:12 AM
The State of Illinois released on Thursday afternoon the various unemployment rates and bits of data from the U.S. BLS and IDES regarding the state for the month of April.
As it noted:
“For the second month in a row, the unemployment rate decreased in eleven metro areas and increased in one over-the-year for the year end April 2025, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES). The St. Louis (IL Section) metro area reached a record low unemployment rate for April at 2.9% while the Bloomington (2.8%), Elgin (3.5%), and Davenport- Moline-Rock Island (IL Section) metro areas reached decades low for April.”
As Deputy Governor Andy Manar stated:
“With unemployment down year over year in nearly every metro area and some reaching decades low for April, Illinois continues to demonstrate strong economic momentum. These numbers reflect the impact of our continued investments in workforce development and our commitment to creating opportunities for both jobseekers and businesses across the state.”
The state also noted that the metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were the Kankakee MSA (-1.4 points to 4.2%), the Rockford MSA (-1.4 points to 4.2%), the Elgin Metro Division (-1.3 points to 3.5%), and the Lake County Metro Division (-1.3 points to 3.7%). The Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg Metropolitan Division reported the only increase (+0.5 point to 5.1%).
Over- the-year, total nonfarm jobs increased in six metropolitan areas, decreased in five, and was unchanged in one. The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Elgin Metro Division (+1.2%, +3,600), the Champaign-Urbana MSA (+1.1%, +1,300), and the Rockford MSA (+0.8%, +1,200). Nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville- Schaumburg Metro Division were up +13,200 (+0.4%).
The metro areas which posted the largest over-the-year decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Bloomington MSA (-2.4%, -2,300), the Illinois section of the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA (-2.3%, -2,000), and the Decatur MSA (-2.1%, -1,000). 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 Government (seven areas each).

As for the Springfield metro area, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.2% in April 2025 decreased from 3.9% in April 2024.

Over-the-year, nonfarm employment increased by +400 to the total of 112,000 jobs. Employment increased in the Government (+1,200), Private Education-Health Services (+300),  Retail Trade (+200), Wholesale Trade (+200), Manufacturing (+100) and Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+100) sectors.

Payrolls were unchanged in Mining-Construction and Financial Activities. Payroll employment decreased in Information (-800), Professional-Business Services (-500), Leisure-Hospitality (-300) and Other Services (-100) between April 2024 and April 2025.

The different charts of unemployment rate changes can be seen below.

          Unemployment Rates (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

 

 

Metropolitan Area

 

April 2025*

 

April 2024**

Over-the- Year

Change

Bloomington

2.8%

3.4%

-0.6

Champaign-Urbana

2.8%

3.8%

-1.0

Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg

5.1%

4.6%

0.5

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island (IL Section)

4.1%

5.0%

-0.9

Decatur

4.7%

5.5%

-0.8

Elgin

3.5%

4.8%

-1.3

Kankakee

4.2%

5.6%

-1.4

Lake

3.7%

5.0%

-1.3

Peoria

3.7%

4.6%

-0.9

Rockford

4.2%

5.6%

-1.4

Springfield

3.2%

3.9%

-0.7

St. Louis (IL Section)

2.9%

4.0%

-1.1

Illinois Statewide

4.5%

4.6%

-0.1

* Preliminary I ** Revised
                                                                   Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – April 2025

Metropolitan Area

April

April

Over-the-Year

 

2025*

2024**

Change

Bloomington

94,800

97,100

-2,300

Champaign-Urbana

124,400

123,100

1,300

Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg

3,783,800

3,770,600

13,200

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island (IL Section)

86,800

88,800

-2,000

Decatur

46,700

47,700

-1,000

Elgin

296,800

293,200

3,600

Kankakee

42,900

42,900

0

Lake

341,300

342,400

-1,100

Peoria

172,400

172,200

200

Rockford

146,200

145,000

1,200

Springfield

112,000

111,600

400

St. Louis (IL Section)

242,300

243,000

-700

Illinois Statewide

6,151,100

6,109,200

41,900

*Preliminary | **Revised

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates (percent) for Local Counties and Areas

 

Labor Market Area

 

Apr 2025

 

Apr 2024

Over-the- Year Change

Decatur MSA

 

 

 

Macon County

4.7%

5.5%

-0.8

Springfield MSA

3.2%

3.9%

-0.7

Menard County

2.9%

3.5%

-0.6

Sangamon County

3.2%

3.9%

-0.7

Cities

 

 

 

Decatur City

5.4%

6.1%

-0.7

Rock Island City

4.2%

4.9%

-0.7

Springfield City

3.5%

4.3%

-0.8

Counties

 

 

 

Adams County

2.5%

3.1%

-0.6

Brown County

2.2%

2.4%

-0.2

Calhoun County

3.2%

4.2%

-1.0

Christian County

3.2%

3.8%

-0.6

De Witt County

3.1%

3.9%

-0.8

Greene County

3.0%

3.6%

-0.6

Hancock County

2.9%

3.4%

-0.5

Jersey County

2.7%

3.9%

-1.2

Logan County

3.7%

4.5%

-0.8

McDonough County

3.1%

3.6%

-0.5

Macoupin County

3.2%

3.9%

-0.7

Montgomery County

3.4%

4.1%

-0.7

Morgan County

3.0%

3.8%

-0.8

Moultrie County

2.7%

3.4%

-0.7

Piatt County

2.5%

3.2%

-0.7

Pike County

3.4%

4.2%

-0.8

Schuyler County

3.4%

4.3%

-0.9

Scott County

4.0%

4.8%

-0.8

Shelby County

2.9%

3.8%

-0.9

Other Areas

 

 

 

LWIA 19

4.5%

5.2%

-0.7

LWIA 20

3.2%

3.9%

-0.7

LWIA 21

3.1%

3.9%

-0.8

Central EDR

3.5%

4.2%

-0.7

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