Department of Numbers

Rockford, Illinois Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Rockford fell 0.2 percentage points in November 2023 to 6.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 2.0 percentage points higher than the Illinois rate. The unemployment rate in Rockford peaked in April 2020 at 22.4% and is now 15.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 5.1% in January 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.6 percentage points. You can also compare Rockford 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
Rockford 6.7% -0.2 +1.5
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: Rockford, Illinois, National

Rockford, Illinois monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Rockford, Illinois Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Rockford peaked in April 2020 at 35,341. There are now 24,707 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 8,019 in January 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 2,615. Rockford employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Rockford, Illinois) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Rockford 10,634 -279 +2,381

Number of Unemployed Persons

Rockford, Illinois Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Illinois
Unemployment Rate
Rockford
Unemployment Rate
Rockford
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 4.7% 6.7% 10,634
October
2023
3.8% 4.6% 6.9% 10,913
September
2023
3.8% 4.4% 6.8% 10,799
August
2023
3.8% 4.1% 6.6% 10,391
July
2023
3.5% 4.0% 6.2% 9,763
June
2023
3.6% 4.0% 6.0% 9,384
May
2023
3.7% 4.1% 5.8% 9,082
April
2023
3.4% 4.2% 5.6% 8,752
March
2023
3.5% 4.4% 5.3% 8,317
February
2023
3.6% 4.5% 5.2% 8,131
January
2023
3.4% 4.5% 5.1% 8,019

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.