June 2026 | Released July 21, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In June, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 30, rose in 7, and remained unchanged in 14.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.

• In June, payroll jobs rose in 34 states and fell in 17. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Alaska and New Hampshire. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1.2 percent in West Virginia.

Illinois

Employment snapshot

• In June, Illinois added 1,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.1 percent. In the prior month, Illinois added 4,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Illinois added 9,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.8 percentage points from 4.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Illinois is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In June, Illinois’s private sector added 600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 5,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Illinois added 2,600 net private payroll jobs.

• In June, employment in Illinois fell by 11,870, and over the past 12 months it fell by 102,805.

• Illinois’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.5 percent in June from 63.7 percent and is tied for 16th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Illinois

Payroll employment

• Illinois added 1,500 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Illinois added 4,100 jobs. Illinois nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Illinois is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Illinois added 600 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Illinois added 2,600 jobs. Illinois private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 49,000 jobs in June, or 0 percent. Illinois ranks 38th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From May 2026 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+3,000) and Professional and Business Services (+2,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-4,100) and Information (-1,800).

From June 2025 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+14,900) and Construction (+10,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-13,100) and Professional and Business Services (-9,500).

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 63.5 percent in June from 63.7 percent in the prior month.

• Illinois is tied for 16th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Illinois was 65.4 percent in June 2016, and the 10-year low was 61.8 percent in June 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 61.5 percent in June.