Department of Numbers

Springfield, Illinois Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Springfield rose 0.1 percentage points in May 2023 to 3.9%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points lower than the Illinois rate. The unemployment rate in Springfield peaked in April 2020 at 15.0% and is now 11.1 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.7% in January 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Springfield 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
Springfield 3.9% +0.1 -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: Springfield, Illinois, National

Springfield, Illinois monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Springfield, Illinois Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Springfield peaked in May 2020 at 14,379. There are now 10,378 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 3,843 in January 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 158. Springfield employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Springfield, Illinois) is also available.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Springfield 4,001 +98 -347

Number of Unemployed Persons

Springfield, Illinois Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Illinois
Unemployment Rate
Springfield
Unemployment Rate
Springfield
Unemployed
June
2023
3.6%
May
2023
3.7% 4.1% 3.9% 4,001
April
2023
3.4% 4.2% 3.8% 3,903
March
2023
3.5% 4.4% 3.7% 3,850
February
2023
3.6% 4.5% 3.8% 3,894
January
2023
3.4% 4.5% 3.7% 3,843
December
2022
3.5% 4.6% 3.8% 3,936
November
2022
3.6% 4.6% 3.8% 3,929
October
2022
3.7% 4.6% 3.8% 3,935
September
2022
3.5% 4.6% 3.9% 3,979
August
2022
3.7% 4.5% 3.9% 4,047
July
2022
3.5% 4.4% 4.0% 4,138

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.