September 2025
Released December 11, 2025
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United States
Employment snapshot
In September, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 10, rose in 21, and remained unchanged in 20.
The highest unemployment rate was 6.2 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 4.4 percent.
In September, payroll jobs rose in 30 states and fell in 20. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Alaska, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Illinois
Employment snapshot
In September, Illinois lost 2,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.4 percent. In the prior month, Illinois lost 2,200 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Illinois added 24,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.6 percentage points from 5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Illinois is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Illinois’s private sector lost 100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Illinois lost 6,600 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Illinois fell by 6,632, and over the past 12 months it fell by 33,818.
Illinois’s labor force participation rate fell to 64.1 percent in September from 64.2 percent and ranks 19th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1 percentage point.
Illinois
Payroll employment
Illinois lost 2,200 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Illinois lost 2,200 jobs. Illinois nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Illinois is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Illinois lost 100 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Illinois lost 6,600 jobs. Illinois private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. Illinois is tied for 45th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From August 2025 to September 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,200) and Information (+1,200).
- The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-3,600) and State and Local Government (-2,100).
From September 2024 to September 2025:
- The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+25,700) and Private Education and Health Services (+12,700).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-10,600) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-10,500).
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 fell to 64.1 percent in September from 64.2 percent in the prior month.
Illinois ranks 19th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Illinois was 65.6 percent occurring in April 2016, and the 10-year low was 61.8 percent in June 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in September.