Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Illinois Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Chicago fell 0.1 percentage points in February 2018 to 4.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.0 percentage points lower than the Illinois rate. The unemployment rate in Chicago peaked in January 2010 at 11.4% and is now 6.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.3% in March 2017, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.4 percentage points. You can also compare Chicago unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	February 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	4.1%	0.0	-0.6
Illinois	4.7%	-0.1	-0.4
Chicago	4.7%	-0.1	-0.3

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with February 2018 data as March 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 March 2010 at 557,476. There are now 325,584 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 208,187 in May 2017, the number of unemployed has now grown by 23,705. Chicago employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Chicago, Illinois) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	February 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
Chicago	231,892	-4,604	-10,780

Number of Unemployed Persons

Chicago, Illinois Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Illinois Unemployment Rate	Chicago Unemployment Rate	Chicago Unemployed
March 2018	4.1%	—	—	—
February 2018	4.1%	4.7%	4.7%	231,892
January 2018	4.1%	4.8%	4.8%	236,496
December 2017	4.1%	4.9%	5.0%	244,885
November 2017	4.1%	4.9%	5.2%	252,398
October 2017	4.1%	4.9%	5.2%	252,143
September 2017	4.2%	5.0%	5.1%	249,100
August 2017	4.4%	5.0%	5.0%	245,273
July 2017	4.3%	5.0%	4.4%	215,083
June 2017	4.3%	4.9%	4.4%	214,467
May 2017	4.3%	4.9%	4.3%	208,187
April 2017	4.4%	4.9%	4.3%	209,837