Rockford, Illinois Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Rockford fell 0.4 percentage points in December 2011 to 13.2%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 3.4 percentage points higher than the Illinois rate. The unemployment rate in Rockford peaked in October 2009 at 16.5% and is now 3.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 11.9% in March 2011, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.3 percentage points. You can also compare Rockford unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.5%	-0.2	-0.9
Illinois	9.8%	-0.2	+0.6
Rockford	13.2%	-0.4	-0.8

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with December 2011 data as January metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Rockford, Illinois, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Rockford, Illinois Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Rockford peaked in November 2009 at 28,378. There are now 6,115 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 19,868 in March 2011, the number of unemployed has now grown by 2,395. Rockford employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Rockford, Illinois) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
Rockford	22,263	-784	-2,038

Number of Unemployed Persons

Rockford, Illinois Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Illinois Unemployment Rate	Rockford Unemployment Rate	Rockford Unemployed
January 2012	8.3%	—	—	—
December 2011	8.5%	9.8%	13.2%	22,263
November 2011	8.7%	10.0%	13.6%	23,047
October 2011	8.9%	10.1%	13.6%	23,150
September 2011	9.0%	10.0%	13.2%	22,406
August 2011	9.1%	9.9%	12.4%	20,866
July 2011	9.1%	9.5%	11.9%	20,212
June 2011	9.1%	9.1%	11.9%	20,000
May 2011	9.0%	8.9%	11.9%	19,965
April 2011	9.0%	8.7%	12.0%	20,108
March 2011	8.9%	8.8%	11.9%	19,868
February 2011	9.0%	8.9%	12.2%	20,561
January 2011	9.1%	9.0%	12.9%	22,130