How many jobs were lost in Chicago, IL area last month?
Refreshed monthly
It lost 5,700 jobs in September 2026. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ state and local employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Metro Area has averaged about 4,700 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-5.7K
month to month change in number of jobs (September 2026)
The Chicago, IL area job loss of 5,700 in September 2026 was smaller than the 7,600 jobs lost in August 2026.
During the latest five-year period (October 2021 to September 2026), the Chicago, IL area gained jobs in 42 out of 60 months. September 2026 had the sixth-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in October 2021 (+54,400) while job growth was weakest in July 2023 (-19,900).
The Chicago, IL area lost 5,700 jobs in September 2026.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment in the Chicago, IL area
How has the Chicago, IL area's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, the Chicago, IL area has gained an average of 817 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 3,000. The 2025 average ranks as 16th-highest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 17,700 every month in 2009 to a gain of 8,200 every month in 2022.
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In 2025, the Chicago, IL area gained an average of 817 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs in the Chicago, IL area, seasonally adjusted
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
