March 23, 2025 – Over-the-year, the unemployment rate decreased in eleven metro areas and increased in one for the year ending January 2025, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES). Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs increased in six metropolitan areas, decreased in five, and was unchanged in one.
In Decatur, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 6.0 percent in January 2025 decreased from 6.7 percent in January 2024. Over-the-year, nonfarm employment decreased by -300 to the total of 46,400 jobs. Employment increased in the Private Education-Health Services (+400), Mining-Construction (+300) and Government (+200) sectors. Payrolls were unchanged in Professional-Business Services and Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities. Payroll employment decreased in Leisure-Hospitality (-300), Manufacturing (-300), Retail Trade (-200), Information (-100), Other Services (-100), Wholesale Trade (-100) and Financial Activities (-100) between January 2024 and January 2025.
“As unemployment decreased over the last year in most metro areas and payroll remains steady, Illinois continues to prioritize region-specific support for jobseekers through local workforce partners,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “Illinois also remains laser-focused on investing in our incomparable workforce and creating a positive business environment to bolster economic opportunity in every corner of the state.”
The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Elgin Metro Division (+2.2%, +6,200), the Peoria MSA (+1.8%, +3,000), and the Rockford MSA (+1.5%, +2,200). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg Metro Division were up +19,000 (+0.5%). The metro areas which posted the largest over-the-year decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Illinois section of the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (-1.1%, -1,000), the Champaign-Urbana MSA (-1.0%, -1,200), and the Decatur MSA (-0.6%, -300). Total nonfarm jobs were unchanged in the Bloomington MSA. Industries that saw job growth in the majority of the twelve metro areas included: Private Education and Health Services (eleven areas); Government (nine areas); and Mining and Construction and Retail Trade (seven areas each).
The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were the Rockford MSA (-1.3 points to 5.8%), the Kankakee MSA (-1.2 points to 6.3%), and the Lake County Metro (-1.1 points to 5.5%). The Chicago Metro Division reported the only increase (+0.3 point to 5.0%).
