Department of Numbers

Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, Illinois Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Chicago rose 0.1 percentage points in March 2013 to 9.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points higher than the Illinois rate. The unemployment rate in Chicago peaked in December 2009 at 11.3% and is now 1.6 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 8.8% in April 2012, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.9 percentage points. You can also compare Chicago unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate March 2013 Month/Month Year/Year
National 7.6% -0.1 -0.6
Illinois 9.5% 0.0 +0.7
Chicago 9.7% +0.1 +0.8
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with March 2013 data as April metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Chicago, Illinois, National

Chicago, Illinois monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Chicago, Illinois Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Chicago peaked in January 2010 at 550,538. There are now 76,807 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 430,938 in April 2012, the number of unemployed has now grown by 42,793. Chicago employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Chicago, Illinois) is also available.

Unemployed Persons March 2013 Month/Month Year/Year
Chicago 473,731 +1,749 +40,807

Number of Unemployed Persons

Chicago, Illinois Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Illinois
Unemployment Rate
Chicago
Unemployment Rate
Chicago
Unemployed
April
2013
7.5% 9.3%
March
2013
7.6% 9.5% 9.7% 473,731
February
2013
7.7% 9.5% 9.6% 471,982
January
2013
7.9% 9.0% 9.1% 448,382
December
2012
7.8% 8.6% 8.8% 431,989
November
2012
7.8% 8.7% 8.8% 431,558
October
2012
7.9% 8.8% 8.8% 431,194
September
2012
7.8% 8.9% 8.8% 431,383
August
2012
8.1% 8.9% 8.8% 431,858
July
2012
8.2% 9.0% 8.8% 432,115
June
2012
8.2% 9.0% 8.8% 431,812
May
2012
8.2% 8.9% 8.8% 431,178
April
2012
8.1% 8.8% 8.8% 430,938

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.