For Immediate Release – October 23, 2026
Unemployment Rate Down for Most Metros in September
Champaign Reaches Record High Jobs, Consecutive Months of Growth for Lake and Peoria Metro Areas
SPRINGFIELD – Over-the-year, the unemployment rate decreased in 11 metro areas and increased in 1 for the year ending September 2026. Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs increased in 4 metropolitan areas, including a record high for the month of September in Champaign-Urbana and consecutive months of year- over-year job growth for Lake (10 months) and Peoria (4 months). Total nonfarm jobs decreased in 7 metro areas and were unchanged in 1.
“Illinois continues to show economic resilience, with bright spots like Champaign-Urbana, Lake, and Peoria,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “But that progress is unfolding against a backdrop of harmful economic policies from the federal government that create unnecessary obstacles for workers, employers, and families. We will continue to invest in the strength of our workforce and businesses, building on successes and working to ensure our communities can thrive despite the challenges created in Washington.”
The largest over-the-year percentage decreases in total nonfarm jobs occurred in the Illinois section of Davenport-Moline-Rock Island (-3.3%, -2,900) followed by a tie between Bloomington (-1.6%, -1,500) and Elgin (-1.6%, -4,900). Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg jobs decreased by -0.1% or -2,700. Over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs occurred in Lake (+0.8%, +2,800), Peoria (+0.5%, +800), and a tie between Champaign-Urbana (+0.2%, +200) and the Illinois part of St. Louis (+0.2%, +500). Kankakee posted no change in jobs. Industries showing job growth in most of the twelve metro areas included: Mining and Construction (10 areas), Private Education and Health Services (9 areas), and Government (8 areas).
The metro areas with the largest unemployment decreases were Kankakee (-1.2 percentage points to 4.2%), followed by a tie between Peoria (-0.9 percentage point to 3.8%) and Rockford (-0.9 percentage point to 4.4%). The only metro area with an unemployment rate increase was Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg (+0.4 percentage point to 4.5%). Statewide, unemployment rate decreased over-the- year in 96 counties and increased in 6.
| Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates | |||
|
Metropolitan Area |
September 2026* |
September 2025** |
Over-
the-Year Change |
| Bloomington | 3.3% | 3.9% | -0.6 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 3.5% | 4.2% | -0.7 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg | 4.5% | 4.1% | 0.4 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island (IL Section) |
5.0% |
5.4% |
-0.4 |
| Decatur | 5.0% | 5.8% | -0.8 |
| Elgin | 3.6% | 4.3% | -0.7 |
| Kankakee | 4.2% | 5.4% | -1.2 |
| Lake | 3.6% | 4.4% | -0.8 |
| Peoria | 3.8% | 4.7% | -0.9 |
| Rockford | 4.4% | 5.3% | -0.9 |
| Springfield | 3.6% | 4.4% | -0.8 |
| St. Louis (IL Section) | 3.5% | 4.2% | -0.7 |
| Illinois Statewide | 4.2% | 4.3% | -0.1 |
| * Preliminary I ** Revised | |||
Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) – September 2026
| September | September | Over-the-Year | |
| Metropolitan Area | 2026* | 2025** | Change |
| Bloomington | 92,300 | 93,800 | -1,500 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 122,400 | 122,200 | 200 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg | 3,841,300 | 3,844,000 | -2,700 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island (IL Section) | 85,000 | 87,900 | -2,900 |
| Decatur | 47,400 | 47,600 | -200 |
| Elgin | 292,900 | 297,800 | -4,900 |
| Kankakee | 42,900 | 42,900 | 0 |
| Lake | 347,300 | 344,500 | 2,800 |
| Peoria | 173,000 | 172,200 | 800 |
| Rockford | 142,900 | 144,300 | -1,400 |
| Springfield | 105,400 | 106,800 | -1,400 |
| St. Louis (IL Section) | 246,000 | 245,500 | 500 |
| Illinois Statewide | 6,193,500 | 6,178,900 | 14,600 |
| *Preliminary | **Revised | |||
Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates (percent) for Local Counties and Areas
|
Labor Market Area |
Sep 2026 |
Sep 2025 |
Over-the- Year Change |
| Champaign-Urbana MSA | 3.5% | 4.2% | –0.7 |
| Champaign County | 3.6% | 4.2% | -0.6 |
| Ford County | 3.3% | 4.1% | -0.8 |
| Piatt County | 2.8% | 3.6% | -0.8 |
| Danville Area | |||
| Vermilion County | 4.5% | 5.5% | -1.0 |
| Cities | |||
| Champaign City | 3.7% | 4.3% | -0.6 |
| Urbana City | 3.9% | 4.5% | -0.6 |
| Danville City | 5.5% | 6.4% | -0.9 |
| Counties | |||
| Clark County | 3.9% | 4.9% | -1.0 |
| Coles County | 3.0% | 3.8% | -0.8 |
| Cook County | 4.7% | 4.3% | 0.4 |
| De Witt County | 3.1% | 3.7% | -0.6 |
| Douglas County | 3.0% | 3.8% | -0.8 |
| Edgar County | 3.7% | 4.5% | -0.8 |
| Iroquois County | 3.9% | 4.7% | -0.8 |
| McLean County | 3.3% | 3.9% | -0.6 |
| Macon County | 5.0% | 5.8% | -0.8 |
| Moultrie County | 3.0% | 4.0% | -1.0 |
| Sangamon County | 3.6% | 4.5% | -0.9 |
| Shelby County | 3.3% | 3.9% | -0.6 |
| Other Areas | |||
| LWIA 17 | 3.5% | 4.2% | -0.7 |
| LWIA 18 | 4.5% | 5.5% | -1.0 |
| East Central EDR | 3.7% | 4.4% | -0.7 |
East Central Illinois Highlights
Champaign-Urbana MSA
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.5 percent in September 2026 decreased from 4.2 percent in September 2025.
Over-the-year, nonfarm employment increased by +200 to the total of 122,400 jobs.
Employment increased in the Leisure-Hospitality (+400), Mining-Construction (+300), Private Education-Health Services (+200) and Transportation-Warehousing- Utilities (+100) sectors.
Payrolls were unchanged in Government, Manufacturing, Other Services and Professional-Business Services.
Payroll employment decreased in Retail Trade (-400), Financial Activities (-200), Information (-100) and Wholesale Trade (-100) between September 2025 and September 2026.
Danville Area – Vermilion County
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.5 percent in September 2026 decreased from 5.5 percent in September 2025.
Over-the-year, nonfarm employment decreased by -400 to the total of 25,525 jobs.
Employment increased in the Private Education-Health Services (+250) and Leisure-Hospitality (+25) sectors.
Payrolls were unchanged in Information and Other Services.
Payroll employment decreased in Professional-Business Services (-225), Government (-150), Manufacturing (-150), Trade-Transportation-Utilities (-125), Construction (-25) and Financial Activities (-25) between September 2025 and September 2026.
Note: Monthly 2025 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2026, 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 2026 data compared to January 2025 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.
