November 2025
Released January 08, 2026
Download the full PDF for Illinois
Download the summary PDF for Illinois
United States
Employment snapshot
The highest unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.1 percent in South Dakota.
In November, payroll jobs rose in 35 states and fell in 15. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.3 percent in Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, and Mississippi. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in New Hampshire.
Illinois
Employment snapshot
In November, Illinois lost 9,700 net payroll jobs. In the prior month, Illinois lost 6,100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Illinois lost 3,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.5 percentage points from 4.9 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November. Illinois is tied for 43rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In November, Illinois’s private sector lost 8,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 4,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Illinois lost 600 net private payroll jobs.
Illinois
Payroll employment
Illinois lost 9,700 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, Illinois lost 6,100 jobs. Illinois nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November, or 0 percent. Illinois is tied for 43rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Illinois lost 8,500 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, Illinois lost 600 jobs. Illinois private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 69,000 jobs in November, or 0.1 percent. Illinois is tied for 47th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From October 2025 to November 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+1,600) and Private Education and Health Services (+800).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,900) and Leisure and Hospitality (-2,300).
From November 2024 to November 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+17,200) and Construction (+9,300).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-11,500) and Leisure and Hospitality (-8,400).
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.
- Illinois is tied for 20th in the nation.