Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Illinois Unemployment
The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Chicago rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 4.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.0 percentage points lower than the Illinois rate. The unemployment rate in Chicago peaked in April 2020 at 18.7% and is now 14.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.9% in May 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.8 percentage points. You can also compare Chicago unemployment with unemployment in other cities.
| Unemployment Rate | November 2023 | Month/Month | Year/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 3.7% | -0.1 | +0.1 |
| Illinois | 4.7% | +0.1 | +0.1 |
| Chicago | 4.7% | +0.1 | +0.1 |
Unemployment Rate: Chicago, Illinois, National
Note: Recessions shown in gray.
Chicago, Illinois Unemployed
The number of people unemployed in Chicago peaked in April 2020 at 901,755. There are now 670,872 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 190,753 in July 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 40,130. Chicago employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Chicago, Illinois) is also available.
| Unemployed Persons | November 2023 | Month/Month | Year/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 230,883 | +6,676 | +1,405 |
Number of Unemployed Persons
Chicago, Illinois Unemployment History
| Date | National Unemployment Rate |
Illinois Unemployment Rate |
Chicago Unemployment Rate |
Chicago Unemployed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2023 |
3.7% | — | — | — |
| November 2023 |
3.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 230,883 |
| October 2023 |
3.8% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 224,207 |
| September 2023 |
3.8% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 215,281 |
| August 2023 |
3.8% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 202,650 |
| July 2023 |
3.5% | 4.0% | 3.9% | 190,753 |
| June 2023 |
3.6% | 4.0% | 3.9% | 192,195 |
| May 2023 |
3.7% | 4.1% | 3.9% | 195,156 |
| April 2023 |
3.4% | 4.2% | 4.1% | 202,129 |
| March 2023 |
3.5% | 4.4% | 4.3% | 211,315 |
| February 2023 |
3.6% | 4.5% | 4.4% | 216,025 |
| January 2023 |
3.4% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 223,947 |
1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers. ↩
Department of Numbers
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
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