July 2025
Released August 19, 2025
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United States
Employment snapshot
In July, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 6, rose in 15, and remained unchanged in 30.
The highest unemployment rate was 6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.
In July, payroll jobs rose in 31 states and fell in 20. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.5 percent in Wyoming.
Illinois
Employment snapshot
In July, Illinois lost 2,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.6 percent. In the prior month, Illinois added 2,300 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Illinois added 20,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.5 percentage points from 5.1 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 73,000 in July, or 0 percent. Illinois is tied for 44th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In July, Illinois’s private sector added 400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 12,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Illinois lost 1,500 net private payroll jobs.
In July, employment in Illinois fell by 6,584, and over the past 12 months it fell by 1,954.
Illinois’s labor force participation rate fell to 64.4 percent in July from 64.6 percent and ranks 19th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.
Illinois
Payroll employment
Illinois lost 2,500 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Illinois added 2,300 jobs. Illinois nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 73,000 in July, or 0 percent. Illinois is tied for 44th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Illinois added 400 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Illinois lost 1,500 jobs. Illinois private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 83,000 jobs in July, 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 June 2025 to July 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+2,900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,700).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-3,500) and State and Local Government (-2,900).
From July 2024 to July 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+17,400) and State and Local Government (+10,100).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-11,000) and Manufacturing (-5,400).
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.
The labor force participation rate in Illinois fell to 64.4 percent in July from 64.6 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 fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.2 percent in July.