Department of Numbers

Kankakee, Illinois Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Kankakee rose 0.3 percentage points in September 2023 to 6.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 2.0 percentage points higher than the Illinois rate. The unemployment rate in Kankakee peaked in April 2020 at 16.2% and is now 9.8 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 5.0% in January 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.4 percentage points. You can also compare Kankakee unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.8% 0.0 +0.3
Illinois 4.4% +0.3 -0.2
Kankakee 6.4% +0.3 +1.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with September 2023 data as October metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Kankakee, Illinois, National

Kankakee, Illinois monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Kankakee, Illinois Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Kankakee peaked in April 2020 at 8,346. There are now 5,038 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 2,581 in January 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 727. Kankakee employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Kankakee, Illinois) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Kankakee 3,308 +146 +629

Number of Unemployed Persons

Kankakee, Illinois Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Illinois
Unemployment Rate
Kankakee
Unemployment Rate
Kankakee
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 4.6%
September
2023
3.8% 4.4% 6.4% 3,308
August
2023
3.8% 4.1% 6.1% 3,162
July
2023
3.5% 4.0% 5.8% 2,982
June
2023
3.6% 4.0% 5.6% 2,865
May
2023
3.7% 4.1% 5.4% 2,783
April
2023
3.4% 4.2% 5.3% 2,719
March
2023
3.5% 4.4% 5.1% 2,636
February
2023
3.6% 4.5% 5.1% 2,633
January
2023
3.4% 4.5% 5.0% 2,581
December
2022
3.5% 4.6% 5.1% 2,629
November
2022
3.6% 4.6% 5.1% 2,633

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.