Department of Numbers

Peoria, Illinois Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Peoria rose 0.2 percentage points in May 2023 to 4.6%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.5 percentage points higher than the Illinois rate. The unemployment rate in Peoria peaked in April 2020 at 17.1% and is now 12.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.2% in September 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.4 percentage points. You can also compare Peoria unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% +0.3 +0.1
Illinois 4.1% -0.1 -0.3
Peoria 4.6% +0.2 0.0
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with May 2023 data as June metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Peoria, Illinois, National

Peoria, Illinois monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Peoria, Illinois Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Peoria peaked in April 2020 at 27,879. There are now 20,104 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 7,086 in January 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 689. Peoria employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Peoria, Illinois) is also available.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Peoria 7,775 +211 -37

Number of Unemployed Persons

Peoria, Illinois Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Illinois
Unemployment Rate
Peoria
Unemployment Rate
Peoria
Unemployed
June
2023
3.6%
May
2023
3.7% 4.1% 4.6% 7,775
April
2023
3.4% 4.2% 4.4% 7,564
March
2023
3.5% 4.4% 4.3% 7,361
February
2023
3.6% 4.5% 4.3% 7,310
January
2023
3.4% 4.5% 4.2% 7,086
December
2022
3.5% 4.6% 4.2% 7,146
November
2022
3.6% 4.6% 4.2% 7,132
October
2022
3.7% 4.6% 4.2% 7,122
September
2022
3.5% 4.6% 4.2% 7,160
August
2022
3.7% 4.5% 4.3% 7,247
July
2022
3.5% 4.4% 4.4% 7,394

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.