Department of Numbers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Illinois Job Growth

There were 4,390,400 jobs in Chicago, Illinois in February 2021 according to the CES survey of employers. The CPS survey of households showed 4,268,492 employed persons for the month. Chicago added 10,000 jobs in February 2021 according to the CES survey while the broader CPS measure of employment rose by 3,416 (Comparing CES and CPS employment numbers.). You can also compare Chicago job growth to job growth in other cities.

Employment Survey February 2021 Month/Month Year/Year
CES 4,390,400 +10,000 -409,600
CPS 4,268,492 +3,416 -398,662

Note: The CPS survey data is now seasonally adjusted at the metropolitan level by with the new BLS SSA series.

Chicago, Illinois Employment Changes

The charts below show the monthly job growth for Chicago as measured by the CES and CPS surveys. To illustrate the trend, the 3 month moving average change in employment is shown in green.

CES Employment Change: 1 Month, Rolling 3 Month

CPS Employment Change: 1 Month, Rolling 3 Month

Total Employment for Chicago, Illinois

CES employment for Chicago peaked in February 2020 at 4,800,000. Since then 409,600 jobs have been lost in Chicago according to the employer survey. From a trough of 4,120,700 in April 2020, Chicago has gained 269,700 jobs according to CES employment figures.

CPS employment reached a maximum of 4,682,560 for Chicago in January 2019. 414,068 jobs have been lost in Chicago since then according to the household survey. From a April 2020 low of 3,874,217, Chicago has added 394,275 jobs according to the CPS survey.

Employment: CES, CPS

CES and CPS employment chart through February 2021

Chicago, Illinois Employment History

Date CES
Employment		 CES
Month/Month		 CPS
Employment		 CPS
Month/Month
February 2021 4,390,400 10,000 4,268,492 3,416
January 2021 4,380,400 14,000 4,265,076 -48,423
December 2020 4,366,400 -5,700 4,313,499 923
November 2020 4,372,100 -2,600 4,312,576 3,270
October 2020 4,374,700 22,300 4,309,306 48,356
September 2020 4,352,400 21,600 4,260,950 84,423
August 2020 4,330,800 57,200 4,176,527 729
July 2020 4,273,600 75,100 4,175,798 -8,315
June 2020 4,198,500 70,200 4,184,113 112,830
May 2020 4,128,300 7,600 4,071,283 197,066
April 2020 4,120,700 -633,600 3,874,217 -746,790
March 2020 4,754,300 -45,700 4,621,007 -46,147

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