How many jobs were lost in Illinois last month?
Refreshed monthly
Illinois lost 7,200 jobs in September 2026, ranking it 44th among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state 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 state has averaged about 5,500 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-7.2K
month to month change in number of jobs (September 2026)
44th
rank among states in monthly job growth (September 2026)
September 2026’s loss of 7,200 jobs was the second consecutive month of negative job growth in Illinois. Monthly job growth was down from the 8,300 lost jobs in August 2026.
During the latest five year period (October 2021 to September 2026), Illinois gained jobs in 35 out of 60 months. September 2026 had the ninth-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in October 2021 (60,800) while job growth was weakest in July 2023 (-24,400).
There were 7,200 fewer jobs in September 2026 in Illinois than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, October 2021–September 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Illinois sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in September 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in September 2026 were arts, entertainment, and recreation, accommodation and food services, and professional, scientific, and technical services. Arts, entertainment, and recreation added 3,300 jobs, more than the entire economy. Accommodation and food services gained 2,400 jobs, while professional, scientific, and technical services added 1,400. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were administrative and support and waste management and remediation services, local government, and other services. Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services lost 4,100 jobs in September 2026, while local government lost 4,100 jobs and other services lost 2,200 jobs.
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The health care and social assistance sector lost 1,700 jobs during September 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Illinois (September 2026)
How has Illinois's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, Illinois lost an average of 525 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 3,100, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as fourth-lowest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 22,400 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 10,000 on average every month in 2022.
In 2025, Illinois lost an average of 525 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among eight metro areas primarily in Illinois during September 2026 ranged from a loss of 5,700 jobs in the Chicago, IL area to a gain of 300 jobs in the Peoria, IL area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within Illinois
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | +3,400 | |
| 2. | +300 | |
| 3. | +100 | |
| 4. | +100 | |
| 5. | +0 | |
| 6. | -100 | |
| 7. | -200 | |
| 8. | -200 | |
| 9. | -1,500 | |
| 10. | -5,700 |
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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.
