Chicago Metro Ends 2025 with Record Number of December Jobs, Year and a Half Year-Over-Year Steady Growth

Chicago Metro Ends 2025 with Record Number of December Jobs, Year and a Half Year-Over-Year Steady Growth

SPRINGFIELD – Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs decreased in 9 metropolitan areas and increased in 3, leading to consecutive months with year-over-year growth in Chicago (18 consecutive months) and Lake (7 consecutive months). Over-the-year, the unemployment rate increased in 11 metro areas and was unchanged in 1 for the year ending December 2025, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES). There was no October 2025 metro area release due to the federal government shutdown.

“Chicago’s job market continues to stand out, with a year and a half of consecutive job growth and a steady unemployment rate,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “At the same time, job losses and rising unemployment in other metro areas show how national economic uncertainty is affecting regions differently. Illinois remains focused on sustaining momentum where growth is strong while supporting workers and employers in communities facing greater headwinds.”

The metro areas which posted the largest over-the-year percentage decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Kankakee MSA (-2.5%, -1,100), the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA, IL Section (-1.6%, -1,400), and a tie between the Elgin Metro Division (-1.2%, -3,600) and the Peoria MSA (-1.2%, -2,000). The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg Metro Division (+0.8%, +28,800), the Lake County Metro Division (+0.3%, +1,200), and the St. Louis MSA, IL Section (+0.2%, +500). Industries that saw job growth in the majority of the twelve metro areas included: Private Education and Health Services (twelve areas), Mining and Construction (ten areas), and Government (seven areas).

The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate increases were the Kankakee MSA (+1.7 point to 6.7%) and a tie between the Champaign-Urbana MSA (+1.4 point to 4.7%), the Decatur MSA (+1.4 point to 6.6%), and Rockford MSA (+1.4 point to 6.2%). The metro area with no unemployment rate change was the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg Metro Division (4.4%). The unemployment rate increased over-the-year in 100 counties, decreased in 1 county, and was unchanged in 1 county.

Kankakee, IL MSA

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 6.7 percent in December 2025 from 5.0 percent in December 2024.

Total nonfarm employment decreased -1,100 compared to December 2024. The Private Education-Health Services (+400) and Mining-Construction (+100) sectors had payroll gains over-the-year. The Government (-700), Manufacturing (-500), Other Services (-100), Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (-100), Retail Trade (-100) and Leisure-Hospitality (-100) sectors had employment declines from a year ago.

Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg, IL Metro Division

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.4 percent in December 2025 was unchanged from a year ago.

Total nonfarm employment increased +28,800 compared to December 2024. The Private Education-Health Services (+20,200), Government (+15,500), Information (+2,900), Financial Activities (+2,500), Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+2,000) and Construction (+1,400) sectors had payroll gains over-the-year. The Retail Trade (-7,600), Manufacturing (-6,100), Leisure-Hospitality (-1,200), Professional-Business Services (-400), Other Services (-200), Natural Resources-Mining (-100) and Wholesale Trade (-100) sectors had employment declines from a year ago.

Elgin, IL Metro Division

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 5.6 percent in December 2025 from 4.3 percent in December 2024.

Total nonfarm employment decreased -3,600 compared to December 2024. The Private Education-Health Services (+800), Government (+700) and Construction (+100) sectors had payroll gains over-the-year. The Retail Trade (-1,500), Manufacturing (-1,200), Leisure-Hospitality (-1,100), Professional-Business Services (-800), Wholesale Trade (-300), Financial Activities (-200) and Other Services (-100) sectors had employment declines from a year ago.

Lake County, IL Metro Division

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 5.8 percent in December 2025 from 4.5 percent in December 2024.

Total nonfarm employment increased +1,200 compared to December 2024. The Leisure-Hospitality (+2,700), Private Education-Health Services (+600), Construction (+200) and Government (+200) sectors had payroll gains over-the-year. The Retail Trade (-1,600), Manufacturing (-300), Professional-Business Services (-200), Wholesale Trade (-200), Financial Activities (-100) and Other Services (-100) sectors had employment declines from a year ago.

Note: Monthly 2024 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2025, as required by the U.S. BLS. Comments and tables distributed for prior metro area news releases should be discarded as any records or historical analysis previously cited may no longer be valid.

Disclaimer: The data contained in the metro area employment numbers press releases are not seasonally adjusted, and therefore are subject to seasonal fluctuations due to factors such as changes in weather, harvests, major holidays and school schedules. Current monthly metro data should be compared to the same month from prior years (January 2025 data compared to January 2024 data) as data for these months have similar seasonal patterns. Comparisons should not be made to data for the immediate previous month or other previous non-matching months, as any changes in the data within these time periods may be the result of seasonal fluctuations and not economic factors.



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