Rockford, Illinois Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Rockford fell 0.2 percentage points in February 2019 to 6.0%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.7 percentage points higher than the Illinois rate. The unemployment rate in Rockford peaked in July 2009 at 16.0% and is now 10.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.2% in February 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.8 percentage points. You can also compare Rockford unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.8%	-0.2	-0.3
Illinois	4.3%	0.0	-0.1
Rockford	6.0%	-0.2	+1.8

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

Unemployment Rate: Rockford, Illinois, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Rockford, Illinois Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Rockford peaked in July 2009 at 27,472. There are now 17,377 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 6,981 in February 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 3,114. Rockford employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Rockford, Illinois) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Rockford	10,095	-362	+3,114

Number of Unemployed Persons

Rockford, Illinois Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Illinois Unemployment Rate	Rockford Unemployment Rate	Rockford Unemployed
March 2019	3.8%	4.4%	—	—
February 2019	3.8%	4.3%	6.0%	10,095
January 2019	4.0%	4.3%	6.2%	10,457
December 2018	3.9%	4.3%	6.9%	11,647
November 2018	3.7%	4.3%	8.3%	14,236
October 2018	3.8%	4.2%	5.3%	8,895
September 2018	3.7%	4.2%	4.9%	8,141
August 2018	3.8%	4.2%	5.1%	8,363
July 2018	3.9%	4.2%	4.9%	8,130
June 2018	4.0%	4.3%	5.2%	8,728
May 2018	3.8%	4.3%	4.9%	8,168
April 2018	3.9%	4.3%	4.7%	7,838