Illinois e-News Release
FOR RELEASE:
August 14, 2025
CONTACT:
Rebecca Cisco | 217.299.8692
Illinois Unemployment Rate Holds Steady, Payroll Jobs Nearly Unchanged in July
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that total nonfarm payrolls were nearly unchanged over-the-month in July, down -2,500 (0.0%) to 6,165,600. The June monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from +9,400 to +2,300.
The industry sectors with the largest over-the-month jobs increases included: Construction (+2,900), Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+1,700), and Private Education and Health Services (+1,100). The industry sectors with the largest monthly payroll jobs decreases included: Professional and Business Services (-3,500), Government (-2,900), and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,200).
Compared to a year ago, total nonfarm payroll jobs increased by +20,300 jobs. The industry groups with the largest jobs increases included: Private Education and Health Services (+17,400), Government (+7,900), and Information (+3,900). The industry groups with jobs decreases included: Professional and Business Services (-11,000), Manufacturing (-5,400), and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-1,700). In July, total nonfarm payrolls were up +0.3 percent over-the-year in Illinois and up +1.0 percent in the nation.
The unemployment rate was 4.6 percent in July, unchanged from the previous month, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The revised June unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.6 percent. The July payroll jobs estimate and unemployment rate reflect activity for the week including the 12th.
“The continued stability in Illinois’ unemployment rate and labor market highlights the strength of our state’s workforce, said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “Through strategic investment and strong partnerships, we remain focused on expanding opportunities and supporting long-term economic growth across all communities.”
“The continued stability in Illinois’ unemployment rate and payroll numbers reflects the strength of our state’s economy,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “As we build on this steady progress, DCEO remains committed to supporting job creation and retention for businesses across Illinois.”
The number of unemployed workers was 300,700, down -2.1% from the prior month, and down -11.1 percent over the same month one year ago. The labor force decreased (-0.2%) over-the-month and was down -0.6% over-the-year. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment. An individual who exhausts or is ineligible for benefits is still reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.
IDES helps connect jobseekers to employers who are hiring in a number of ways, including hosting and co-hosting job fairs and hiring events with statewide workforce partners, and through maintaining
Illinois JobLink (IJL), the state’s largest job search engine. IJL is a tool used by jobseekers to look for work, and by employers who can post open and available positions for hire and browse resumes. Recently, IJL showed 63,551 posted resumes with 66,426 jobs available. Additionally, in partnership with IDOL and DCEO, IDES published resources to
assist federal employees and contractors impacted by recent terminations or deferred resignations.
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
Illinois Seasonally Adjusted Nonfarm Jobs – by Major Industry
- Monthly 1976-2024 seasonally adjusted labor force data for Illinois, and all other states, have been revised as required by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The monthly historical revisions to state labor force estimates reflect new national benchmark controls, state working-age population controls, outlier specifications, seasonal factors, as well as updated total nonfarm jobs and unemployment benefits claims inputs. Illinois labor force data were also smoothed to eliminate large monthly changes as a result of volatility in the monthly Current Population Survey (CPS) and national benchmarking. For these reasons, the comments and tables citing unemployment rates in previous news releases/materials may no longer be valid.
- Monthly seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for Illinois and the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg Metropolitan Division are available here.
- Monthly 2020-2024 seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment data for Illinois have been revised. To control for potential survey error, the estimates are benchmarked annually to universal counts derived primarily from unemployment insurance tax reports.
- Not seasonally adjusted jobs data with industry detail are available here. “Other Services” include activities in three broad categories: personal and laundry; repair and maintenance; and religious, grant making, civic and professional organizations. Seasonally adjusted data for subsectors within industries are not available.
About the Department of Employment Security
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