Department of Numbers

Bloomington, Illinois Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Bloomington fell 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 4.3%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage points lower than the Illinois rate. The unemployment rate in Bloomington peaked in April 2020 at 13.3% and is now 9.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.3% in October 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.0 percentage points. You can also compare Bloomington 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
Bloomington 4.3% -0.1 +1.0
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with November 2023 data as December metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Bloomington, Illinois, National

Bloomington, Illinois monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Bloomington, Illinois Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Bloomington peaked in April 2020 at 11,498. There are now 7,322 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 3,163 in January 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,013.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Bloomington 4,176 -126 +959

Number of Unemployed Persons

Bloomington, Illinois Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Illinois
Unemployment Rate
Bloomington
Unemployment Rate
Bloomington
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 4.7% 4.3% 4,176
October
2023
3.8% 4.6% 4.4% 4,302
September
2023
3.8% 4.4% 4.4% 4,243
August
2023
3.8% 4.1% 4.2% 4,032
July
2023
3.5% 4.0% 3.9% 3,750
June
2023
3.6% 4.0% 3.7% 3,545
May
2023
3.7% 4.1% 3.5% 3,412
April
2023
3.4% 4.2% 3.4% 3,309
March
2023
3.5% 4.4% 3.3% 3,202
February
2023
3.6% 4.5% 3.3% 3,225
January
2023
3.4% 4.5% 3.3% 3,163

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.