May 2025 | Released June 24, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 14, and remained unchanged in 24.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in May.

• In May, payroll jobs rose in 37 states and fell in 11. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Montana. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in Connecticut.

Illinois Employment Snapshot

• In May, Illinois added 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.8 percent. In the prior month, Illinois lost 2,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Illinois added 21,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 5.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Illinois is tied for 44th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Illinois’s private sector added 2,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 14,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Illinois lost 2,500 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Illinois fell by 7,575, and over the past 12 months it rose by 20,821.

• Illinois’s labor force participation rate fell to 64.7 percent in May from 64.9 percent and ranks 19th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Illinois Payroll Employment

• Illinois added 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Illinois lost 2,400 jobs. Illinois nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Illinois is tied for 44th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Illinois added 2,500 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Illinois lost 2,500 jobs. Illinois private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Illinois is tied for 43rd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during May were Professional and Business Services (1,900) and Financial Activities (1,600).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Government (-2,400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,800).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (16,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (7,800).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-5,300) and Professional and Business Services (-8,600).

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 64.7 percent in May from 64.9 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 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in May.