Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Illinois Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Chicago fell 0.0 percentage points in October 2019 to 3.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points lower than the Illinois rate. The unemployment rate in Chicago peaked in January 2010 at 11.4% and is now 7.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.7% in August 2019, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Chicago unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	October 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.6%	+0.1	-0.2
Illinois	3.9%	0.0	-0.3
Chicago	3.7%	0.0	-0.3

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with October 2019 data as November metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Chicago, Illinois, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Chicago, Illinois Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Chicago peaked in February 2010 at 556,209. There are now 373,075 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 181,869 in September 2019, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,265. Chicago employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Chicago, Illinois) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	October 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Chicago	183,134	+1,265	-10,445

Number of Unemployed Persons

Chicago, Illinois Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Illinois Unemployment Rate	Chicago Unemployment Rate	Chicago Unemployed
November 2019	3.5%	—	—	—
October 2019	3.6%	3.9%	3.7%	183,134
September 2019	3.5%	3.9%	3.7%	181,869
August 2019	3.7%	4.0%	3.7%	182,625
July 2019	3.7%	4.2%	3.8%	185,824
June 2019	3.7%	4.3%	3.8%	187,931
May 2019	3.6%	4.4%	3.9%	192,943
April 2019	3.6%	4.4%	4.0%	196,256
March 2019	3.8%	4.4%	4.0%	196,841
February 2019	3.8%	4.3%	4.0%	197,188
January 2019	4.0%	4.3%	4.1%	198,123
December 2018	3.9%	4.3%	4.0%	194,679