Illinois Metro Employment Data, February 2026

Release Date: 04/23/2026

Mixed Metro Area Job Growth as Unemployment Rate Ticks Up Across Illinois in February

FOR RELEASE: April 23, 2026
CONTACT: Rebecca Cisco | 217.299.8692 rebecca.cisco@illinois.gov SPRINGFIELD – Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs decreased in 8 metropolitan areas and increased in 4, leading to consecutive months with year-over-year growth in Champaign (13 consecutive months). Over-the-year, the unemployment rate increased in all 12 metro areas for the year ending February 2026, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES).
“February’s numbers show job growth in a few parts of Illinois, but rising unemployment across metro areas underscores the uncertainty coming from the federal government,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “Washington’s shifting policies are making it harder for states to maintain momentum. Illinois will continue focusing on growth, supporting employers, and investing in our workforce.”
The metro areas which posted the largest over-the-year percentage decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Springfield MSA (-2.4%, -2,600), the Rockford MSA (-1.7%, -2,500), and the Bloomington MSA (-1.4%, -1,300). The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Peoria MSA (+1.0%, +1,600), the Champaign-Urbana MSA (+0.9%, +1,100), and the Lake County Metro Division (+0.4%, +1,300). Nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg Metro Division were down -6,500 (-0.2%). Industries that saw job growth in the majority of the twelve metro areas included: Mining and Construction (ten areas), followed by Private Education and Health Services and Government (nine areas each).
The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate increases were the Kankakee MSA (+1.1 point to 7.0%) followed by a tie between the Decatur MSA (+1.0 point to 6.8%), the Rockford MSA (+1.0 point to 6.7%), and Springfield MSA (+1.0 point to 5.4%). The Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg Metro Division unemployment rate grew by +0.3 point to 5.4%. The unemployment rate increased over-the-year in 100 counties and decreased in 2. Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

| ****

February Feb

Metropolitan Area 2026* 202 | Over-

ruary **** the- Year

5** **** Change |
| Bloomington 4.6% 3. | 8% 0.8 |
| Champaign- Urbana 4.8% 3. | 9% 0.9 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg 5.4% 5. | 1% 0.3 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island (IL Section) 6.1% 5. | 6% 0.5 |
| Decatur 6.8% 5. | 8% 1.0 |
| Elgin 5.9% 5. | 0% 0.9 |
| Kankakee 7.0% 5. | 9% 1.1 |
| Lake 6.2% 5. | 3% 0.9 |
| Peoria 5.8% 5. | 2% 0.6 |
| Rockford 6.7% 5. | 7% 1.0 |
| Springfield 5.4% 4. | 4% 1.0 |
| St. Louis (IL Section) 4.8% 3. | 9% 0.9 |
| Illinois Statewide 5.5% 5. | 0% 0.5 |
| **** Preliminary*** I *** Revised* | |

Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – February 2026

| Metropolitan Area | February

2026* | February

2025** | Over-the-Year

Change |
| Bloomington | 92,000 | 93,300 | - 1,300 |
| Champaign- Urbana | 122,000 | 120,900 | 1,100 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg | 3,760,600 | 3,767,100 | - 6,500 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island (IL Section) | 85,900 | 86,500 | - 600 |
| Decatur | 46,800 | 47,100 | - 300 |
| Elgin | 289,100 | 289,800 | - 700 |
| Kankakee | 41,800 | 42,200 | - 400 |
| Lake | 334,300 | 333,000 | 1,300 |
| Peoria | 169,400 | 167,800 | 1,600 |
| Rockford | 140,700 | 143,200 | - 2,500 |
| Springfield | 105,100 | 107,700 | - 2,600 |
| St. Louis (IL Section) | 240,900 | 240,100 | 800 |
| Illinois Statewide | 6,048,000 | 6,060,500 | - 12,500 |
| *Preliminary | *Revised* |

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates (percent) for Local Counties and Areas

| ****

Labor Market Area | ****

Feb 2026 | ****

Feb 2025 | Over-the- Year Change |
| Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg, IL Metro Division |
| Cook County | 5.5% | 5.3% | 0.2 |
| DuPage County | 4.5% | 4.2% | 0.3 |
| Grundy County | 5.6% | 5.8% | - 0.2 |
| McHenry County | 5.2% | 4.9% | 0.3 |
| Will County | 5.5% | 5.3% | 0.2 |
| Elgin, IL Metro Division |
| DeKalb County | 5.4 % | 4.7 % | 0.7 |
| Kane County | 6.2% | 5.2% | 1.0 |
| Kendall County | 5.3% | 4.4% | 0.9 |
| Lake County, IL Metro Division |
| Lake County | 6.2% | 5.3% | 0.9 |
| Kankakee, IL MSA |
| Kankakee County | 7.0% | 5.9% | 1.1 |
| Cities |
| Aurora City | 5.8% | 4.9% | 0.9 |
| Chicago City | 5.5% | 5.3% | 0.2 |
| Elgin City | 8.3% | 7.3% | 1.0 |
| Joliet City | 7.0% | 6.7% | 0.3 |
| Kankakee City | 9.3% | 8.2% | 1.1 |
| Naperville City | 3.9% | 3.7% | 0.2 |

Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 5.4 percent in February 2026 from 5.1 percent in February 2025.
Total nonfarm employment decreased -6,500 compared to February 2025. The Private Education-Health Services (+15,800), Government (+3,500), Construction (+3,300), Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+2,200), Other Services (+1,200), Manufacturing (+300) and Natural Resources-Mining (+200) sectors had payroll gains over-the-year. The Professional-Business Services (-13,900), Wholesale Trade (-7,300), Retail Trade (-4,700), Information (-3,200), Financial Activities (-2,900) and Leisure-Hospitality (-1,000) sectors had employment declines from a year ago.
Elgin, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 5.9 percent in February 2026 from 5.0 percent in February 2025.
Total nonfarm employment decreased -700 compared to February 2025. The Government (+2,300), Private Education-Health Services (+700), Other Services (+400), Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+300) and Construction (+100) sectors had payroll gains over-the-year. The Retail Trade (-1,200), Manufacturing (-1,200), Professional-Business Services (-800), Leisure-Hospitality (-600), Wholesale Trade (-300), Information (-200) and Financial Activities (-200) sectors had employment declines from a year ago.
Lake County, IL Metro Division
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 6.2 percent in February 2026 from 5.3 percent in February 2025.
Total nonfarm employment increased +1,300 compared to February 2025. The Private Education-Health Services (+1,300),  Construction  (+1,000),  Professional-Business Services (+600), Government (+500), Leisure-Hospitality (+200), Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+100) and Other Services (+100) sectors had payroll gains over-the-year. The Retail Trade (-1,000), Wholesale Trade (-700), Financial Activities (-500), Information (-200) and Manufacturing (-100) sectors had employment declines from a year ago.
Kankakee, IL MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 7.0 percent in February 2026 from 5.9 percent in February 2025.
Total nonfarm employment decreased -400 compared to February 2025. The Mining-Construction (+200), Professional-Business Services (+100), Manufacturing (+100) and Government (+100) sectors had payroll gains over-the-year. The Private Education-Health Services (-400), Wholesale Trade (-200), Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (-100), Retail Trade (-100) and Leisure-Hospitality (-100) sectors had employment declines from a year ago.

Note: Monthly 2025 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2026, as required by the U.S. BLS. Comments and tables distributed for prior metro area news releases should be discarded as any records or historical analysis previously cited may no longer be valid.
Disclaimer: The data contained in the metro area employment numbers press releases are not seasonally adjusted, and therefore are subject to seasonal fluctuations due to factors such as changes in weather, harvests, major holidays and school schedules. Current monthly metro data should be compared to the same month from prior years (January 2026 data compared to January 2025 data) as data for these months have similar seasonal patterns. Comparisons should not be made to data for the immediate previous month or other previous non-matching months, as any changes in the data within these time periods may be the result of seasonal fluctuations and not economic factors.
- IDES February Unemployment Rate Region 1
Back to top

Stay Informed

• Emergencies and Disasters
• Flag Honors
• Traveler Information & Road Conditions
• Get Email Updates

Helpful Links

• Kids Privacy
• Contact Us
• FOIA Contacts
• State Press Contacts
• Tech Ready Illinois
• Fun Facts