Rockford, Illinois Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Rockford rose 0.4 percentage points in October 2018 to 5.3%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.1 percentage points higher than the Illinois rate. The unemployment rate in Rockford peaked in July 2009 at 16.0% and is now 10.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.2% in February 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.1 percentage points. You can also compare Rockford unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	October 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.7%	0.0	-0.4
Illinois	4.2%	+0.1	-0.7
Rockford	5.3%	+0.4	+0.2

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with October 2018 data as November 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 18,575 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 1,916. Rockford employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Rockford, Illinois) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	October 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
Rockford	8,897	+756	+569

Number of Unemployed Persons

Rockford, Illinois Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Illinois Unemployment Rate	Rockford Unemployment Rate	Rockford Unemployed
November 2018	3.7%	—	—	—
October 2018	3.7%	4.2%	5.3%	8,897
September 2018	3.7%	4.1%	4.9%	8,141
August 2018	3.9%	4.1%	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%	4.4%	4.7%	7,838
March 2018	4.1%	4.6%	4.5%	7,488
February 2018	4.1%	4.7%	4.2%	6,981
January 2018	4.1%	4.8%	4.4%	7,212
December 2017	4.1%	4.9%	4.9%	8,057