How many jobs were lost in Illinois last month?
Updated Apr. 14, 2026Refreshed annually
Illinois gained 18,000 jobs in January 2026, ranking it fifth 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 7,900 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
+18K
month to month change in number of jobs (January 2026)
5th
rank among states in monthly job growth (January 2026)
January 2026's gain of 18,000 jobs was the second consecutive month of positive job growth in Illinois. Monthly job growth was up from the 11,600 new jobs in December 2025.
During the latest five year period (February 2021 to January 2026), Illinois gained jobs in 37 out of 60 months. January 2026 had the 13th-highest 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 18,000 more jobs in January 2026 in Illinois than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, February 2021–January 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Illinois sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in January 2026?
During the latest five year period (February 2021 to January 2026), Illinois gained jobs in 37 out of 60 months. January 2026 had the 13th-highest 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).
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in January 2026 were construction, durable goods, and local government. Construction added 13,500 jobs, durable goods gained 8,000 jobs, while local government added 2,500. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The health care and social assistance sector lost 2,900 jobs during January 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Illinois (January 2026)
How does Illinois's job growth in 2025 compare to previous years?
In 2025, the state has lost an average of 142 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 3,600, and the fourth-lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as fourth-lowest in job growth since 2006.
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 7,200 on average every month in 2014.
In 2025, Illinois lost an average of 142 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
### Job Growth Among Eight Metro Areas in Illinois During January 2026
Job growth among eight metro areas at least partially in Illinois during January 2026 ranged from a loss of 3,200 jobs in the Champaign, IL area to a gain of 8,100 jobs in the Chicago, IL area metro area.
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
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.
