September 2026
Released October 20, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
In September, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 18, rose in 9, and remained unchanged in 24.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.
In September, payroll jobs rose in 24 states and fell in 25. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Carolina. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in Missouri and Wisconsin.
Illinois
Employment snapshot
In September, Illinois lost 7,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.6 percent. In the prior month, Illinois lost 8,300 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Illinois added 13,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 4.5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Illinois is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Illinois’s private sector lost 2,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 14,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Illinois lost 7,800 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Illinois rose by 331, and over the past 12 months it fell by 92,172.
Illinois’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 63 percent in September and ranks 19th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.9 percentage points.
Illinois
Payroll employment
Illinois lost 7,200 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Illinois lost 8,300 jobs. Illinois nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Illinois is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Illinois lost 2,600 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Illinois lost 7,800 jobs. Illinois private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. Illinois is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From August 2026 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+5,700) and Construction (+1,300).
- The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-4,500) and Private Education and Health Services (-3,700).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+14,300) and Leisure and Hospitality (+8,500).
- The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-13,500) and Federal Government (-4,200).
Illinois
Labor force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in Illinois remained unchanged at 63 percent in September.
Illinois ranks 19th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Illinois was 65.1 percent occurring in September 2016, and the 10-year low was 61.8 percent in June 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.