What is the unemployment rate in Illinois right now?
Refreshed monthly
Unemployment in Illinois was at 4.9% in July 2026. That's a 0.2 percentage point decrease from the month before. The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who are actively looking for work but not currently employed. It's a common way to measure the health of the job market and economy.
In July 2026,
4.9%
of the labor force was unemployed in Illinois
July 2026 had a
-0.2
percentage point change from the previous month
The Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates the unemployment rate through a monthly survey to identify the civilian labor force, meaning people who are employed or actively seeking work. It counts part-time workers as employed. It excludes people who aren’t actively looking for work, such as retirees or discouraged workers.
In July 2026, the unemployment rate in Illinois was higher than the US overall.
Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, January 2007 to July 2026
Unemployment rates differ within states due to various factors. Counties with many job opportunities and different industries often have lower unemployment rates. In rural areas or in places where industries are shrinking, the rate can be higher. Seasonal work in industries like tourism or farming can lead to unemployment rising or falling. Population changes and local policies also play a role in how many people are employed.
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What counties in Illinois have the highest and lowest unemployment?
In Illinois, Edwards County, IL had the highest unemployment rate at 8.7%. Brown County, IL had the lowest at 3.0%. Cook County, IL, the county with the largest labor force in the state, had an unemployment rate of 5.8%. The latest county-level data is from June 2026.
Unemployment rates in Illinois counties ranged from 3% to 8.7% in June 2026.
Unemployment rate, by county, not seasonally adjusted
Unemployment rate, by county in Illinois (June 2026)
| 1. | Edwards County, IL | 8.7% |
| 2. | Alexander County, IL | 6.5% |
| 3. | Pulaski County, IL | 6.2% |
| 4. | Pope County, IL | 5.9% |
| 5. | Cook County, IL | 5.8% |
| 6. | Macon County, IL | 5.8% |
| 7. | Will County, IL | 5.4% |
| 8. | Jackson County, IL | 5.3% |
| 9. | Grundy County, IL | 5.2% |
| 10. | Jefferson County, IL | 5.2% |
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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.
