Department of Numbers

Rockford, Illinois Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Rockford rose 0.2 percentage points in May 2023 to 5.8%. 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 April 2020 at 22.4% and is now 16.6 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 5.1% in January 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.7 percentage points. You can also compare Rockford 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
Rockford 5.8% +0.2 -0.3
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: Rockford, Illinois, National

Rockford, Illinois monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Rockford, Illinois Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Rockford peaked in April 2020 at 35,341. There are now 26,256 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 8,019 in January 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,066. Rockford employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Rockford, Illinois) is also available.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Rockford 9,085 +333 -584

Number of Unemployed Persons

Rockford, Illinois Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Illinois
Unemployment Rate
Rockford
Unemployment Rate
Rockford
Unemployed
June
2023
3.6%
May
2023
3.7% 4.1% 5.8% 9,085
April
2023
3.4% 4.2% 5.6% 8,752
March
2023
3.5% 4.4% 5.3% 8,317
February
2023
3.6% 4.5% 5.2% 8,131
January
2023
3.4% 4.5% 5.1% 8,019
December
2022
3.5% 4.6% 5.2% 8,276
November
2022
3.6% 4.6% 5.2% 8,253
October
2022
3.7% 4.6% 5.2% 8,265
September
2022
3.5% 4.6% 5.3% 8,355
August
2022
3.7% 4.5% 5.4% 8,519
July
2022
3.5% 4.4% 5.6% 8,806

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.