Data / Rankings / Covered employment (QCEW) / Counties in Illinois

Counties in Illinois by covered employment (QCEW)

Cook County had the highest covered employment (QCEW) of 102 counties in 2016, at 2,561,922 jobs. Pope County had the lowest, at 568 jobs. The median was 7,779 jobs and the figure for Illinois was 5,895,633 jobs. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest2,561,922Cook County
Lowest568Pope County
Median7,779102 counties
Illinois5,895,633History

Map of counties, 2016

Adams County: 32,322 jobsAlexander County: 1,177 jobsBond County: 4,673 jobsBoone County: 17,247 jobsBrown County: 4,040 jobsBureau County: 11,651 jobsCalhoun County: 771 jobsCarroll County: 3,955 jobsCass County: 5,447 jobsChampaign County: 89,623 jobsChristian County: 10,389 jobsClark County: 4,764 jobsClay County: 5,248 jobsClinton County: 12,151 jobsColes County: 23,806 jobsCook County: 2,561,922 jobsCrawford County: 7,146 jobsCumberland County: 2,574 jobsDeKalb County: 37,595 jobsDe Witt County: 5,226 jobsDouglas County: 7,413 jobsDuPage County: 612,265 jobsEdgar County: 7,245 jobsEdwards County: 2,388 jobsEffingham County: 20,544 jobsFayette County: 5,199 jobsFord County: 4,489 jobsFranklin County: 8,073 jobsFulton County: 8,333 jobsGallatin County: 1,241 jobsGreene County: 2,308 jobsGrundy County: 18,977 jobsHamilton County: 1,905 jobsHancock County: 3,868 jobsHardin County: 685 jobsHenderson County: 1,056 jobsHenry County: 14,192 jobsIroquois County: 7,906 jobsJackson County: 24,786 jobsJasper County: 2,044 jobsJefferson County: 19,692 jobsJersey County: 4,930 jobsJo Daviess County: 7,580 jobsJohnson County: 2,355 jobsKane County: 207,883 jobsKankakee County: 43,273 jobsKendall County: 27,327 jobsKnox County: 19,112 jobsLake County: 332,564 jobsLaSalle County: 42,914 jobsLawrence County: 4,526 jobsLee County: 13,020 jobsLivingston County: 13,668 jobsLogan County: 9,162 jobsMcDonough County: 11,152 jobsMcHenry County: 96,943 jobsMcLean County: 83,683 jobsMacon County: 49,393 jobsMacoupin County: 10,135 jobsMadison County: 97,974 jobsMarion County: 12,851 jobsMarshall County: 2,968 jobsMason County: 3,051 jobsMassac County: 3,345 jobsMenard County: 1,774 jobsMercer County: 3,000 jobsMonroe County: 8,225 jobsMontgomery County: 8,769 jobsMorgan County: 14,302 jobsMoultrie County: 4,921 jobsOgle County: 15,994 jobsPeoria County: 100,458 jobsPerry County: 4,752 jobsPiatt County: 3,298 jobsPike County: 4,059 jobsPope County: 568 jobsPulaski County: 1,398 jobsPutnam County: 1,914 jobsRandolph County: 12,596 jobsRichland County: 6,003 jobsRock Island County: 71,854 jobsSt. Clair County: 93,274 jobsSaline County: 7,651 jobsSangamon County: 128,646 jobsSchuyler County: 1,539 jobsScott County: 1,019 jobsShelby County: 4,798 jobsStark County: 1,355 jobsStephenson County: 16,223 jobsTazewell County: 55,061 jobsUnion County: 4,984 jobsVermilion County: 27,312 jobsWabash County: 3,242 jobsWarren County: 6,321 jobsWashington County: 6,131 jobsWayne County: 3,802 jobsWhite County: 4,227 jobsWhiteside County: 20,919 jobsWill County: 230,559 jobsWilliamson County: 27,989 jobsWinnebago County: 127,007 jobsWoodford County: 9,867 jobs
  • Under 10K
  • 10K to 40K
  • 40K and over
jobs, 2016. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2016

Cook County: 2,561,922 jobsCook County2,561,922DuPage County: 612,265 jobsDuPage County612,265Lake County: 332,564 jobsLake County332,564Will County: 230,559 jobsWill County230,559Kane County: 207,883 jobsKane County207,883Sangamon County: 128,646 jobsSangamon County128,646Winnebago County: 127,007 jobsWinnebago County127,007Peoria County: 100,458 jobsPeoria County100,458Madison County: 97,974 jobsMadison County97,974McHenry County: 96,943 jobsMcHenry County96,943St. Clair County: 93,274 jobsSt. Clair County93,274Champaign County: 89,623 jobsChampaign County89,623McLean County: 83,683 jobsMcLean County83,683Rock Island County: 71,854 jobsRock Island County71,854Tazewell County: 55,061 jobsTazewell County55,061Macon County: 49,393 jobsMacon County49,393Kankakee County: 43,273 jobsKankakee County43,273LaSalle County: 42,914 jobsLaSalle County42,914DeKalb County: 37,595 jobsDeKalb County37,595Adams County: 32,322 jobsAdams County32,322Williamson County: 27,989 jobsWilliamson County27,989Kendall County: 27,327 jobsKendall County27,327Vermilion County: 27,312 jobsVermilion County27,312Jackson County: 24,786 jobsJackson County24,786Coles County: 23,806 jobsColes County23,806Whiteside County: 20,919 jobsWhiteside County20,919Effingham County: 20,544 jobsEffingham County20,544Jefferson County: 19,692 jobsJefferson County19,692Knox County: 19,112 jobsKnox County19,112Grundy County: 18,977 jobsGrundy County18,977Boone County: 17,247 jobsBoone County17,247Stephenson County: 16,223 jobsStephenson County16,223Ogle County: 15,994 jobsOgle County15,994Morgan County: 14,302 jobsMorgan County14,302Henry County: 14,192 jobsHenry County14,192Livingston County: 13,668 jobsLivingston County13,668Lee County: 13,020 jobsLee County13,020Marion County: 12,851 jobsMarion County12,851Randolph County: 12,596 jobsRandolph County12,596Clinton County: 12,151 jobsClinton County12,151Cook County: 2,561,922 jobsCook County2,561,922DuPage County: 612,265 jobsDuPage County612,265Lake County: 332,564 jobsLake County332,564Will County: 230,559 jobsWill County230,559Kane County: 207,883 jobsKane County207,883Sangamon County: 128,646 jobsSangamon County128,646Winnebago County: 127,007 jobsWinnebago County127,007Peoria County: 100,458 jobsPeoria County100,458Madison County: 97,974 jobsMadison County97,974McHenry County: 96,943 jobsMcHenry County96,943St. Clair County: 93,274 jobsSt. Clair County93,274Champaign County: 89,623 jobsChampaign County89,623McLean County: 83,683 jobsMcLean County83,683Rock Island County: 71,854 jobsRock Island County71,854Tazewell County: 55,061 jobsTazewell County55,061Macon County: 49,393 jobsMacon County49,393Kankakee County: 43,273 jobsKankakee County43,273LaSalle County: 42,914 jobsLaSalle County42,914DeKalb County: 37,595 jobsDeKalb County37,595Adams County: 32,322 jobsAdams County32,322Williamson County: 27,989 jobsWilliamson County27,989Kendall County: 27,327 jobsKendall County27,327Vermilion County: 27,312 jobsVermilion County27,312Jackson County: 24,786 jobsJackson County24,786Coles County: 23,806 jobsColes County23,806Whiteside County: 20,919 jobsWhiteside County20,919Effingham County: 20,544 jobsEffingham County20,544Jefferson County: 19,692 jobsJefferson County19,692Knox County: 19,112 jobsKnox County19,112Grundy County: 18,977 jobsGrundy County18,977Boone County: 17,247 jobsBoone County17,247Stephenson County: 16,223 jobsStephenson County16,223Ogle County: 15,994 jobsOgle County15,994Morgan County: 14,302 jobsMorgan County14,302Henry County: 14,192 jobsHenry County14,192Livingston County: 13,668 jobsLivingston County13,668Lee County: 13,020 jobsLee County13,020Marion County: 12,851 jobsMarion County12,851Randolph County: 12,596 jobsRandolph County12,596Clinton County: 12,151 jobsClinton County12,151
jobs. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2016
jobs		Change on 2015
1Cook County2,561,922+1.2%
2DuPage County612,265+1.4%
3Lake County332,564+0.4%
4Will County230,559+4.4%
5Kane County207,883+0.7%
6Sangamon County128,646-0.7%
7Winnebago County127,007-0.3%
8Peoria County100,458-0.9%
9Madison County97,974+0.6%
10McHenry County96,943+0.9%
11St. Clair County93,274+0.4%
12Champaign County89,623-0%
13McLean County83,683-1.1%
14Rock Island County71,854-0.7%
15Tazewell County55,061-2.5%
16Macon County49,393+0.2%
17Kankakee County43,273+0.7%
18LaSalle County42,914-1.4%
19DeKalb County37,595+0.3%
20Adams County32,322-0.8%
21Williamson County27,989+3.5%
22Kendall County27,327+0.2%
23Vermilion County27,312-1.5%
24Jackson County24,786-1%
25Coles County23,806+1.9%
26Whiteside County20,919+1.1%
27Effingham County20,544+1.3%
28Jefferson County19,692+3.3%
29Knox County19,112-0.8%
30Grundy County18,977+1.8%
31Boone County17,247+0.2%
32Stephenson County16,223-2.8%
33Ogle County15,994-0.6%
34Morgan County14,302-0.6%
35Henry County14,192+1%
36Livingston County13,668-2.5%
37Lee County13,020+0.3%
38Marion County12,851-1.1%
39Randolph County12,596+1.3%
40Clinton County12,151-1.5%
41Bureau County11,651+2.3%
42McDonough County11,152-2.8%
43Christian County10,389-1.2%
44Macoupin County10,135+0.7%
45Woodford County9,867-9.6%
46Logan County9,162+1.2%
47Montgomery County8,769+1.7%
48Fulton County8,333+0.6%
49Monroe County8,225+1.6%
50Franklin County8,073-1.5%
51Iroquois County7,906-1.9%
52Saline County7,651-6.5%
53Jo Daviess County7,580-1.5%
54Douglas County7,413+1.5%
55Edgar County7,245+5.4%
56Crawford County7,146-7.8%
57Warren County6,321+0.2%
58Washington County6,131+2.7%
59Richland County6,003-0.3%
60Cass County5,447-6.4%
61Clay County5,248+0.2%
62De Witt County5,226-4%
63Fayette County5,199-3%
64Union County4,984+2.4%
65Jersey County4,930+2.4%
66Moultrie County4,921+1.2%
67Shelby County4,798+2.2%
68Clark County4,764-0.2%
69Perry County4,752-3.6%
70Bond County4,673+0.7%
71Lawrence County4,526+0.1%
72Ford County4,489-0.1%
73White County4,227-3.7%
74Pike County4,059-2.5%
75Brown County4,040+2.7%
76Carroll County3,955-5%
77Hancock County3,868-0.9%
78Wayne County3,802-7.9%
79Massac County3,345-2.8%
80Piatt County3,298+0.4%
81Wabash County3,242+3%
82Mason County3,051-4.4%
83Mercer County3,000-4.9%
84Marshall County2,968+1.7%
85Cumberland County2,574-1%
86Edwards County2,388+0.5%
87Johnson County2,355-0.3%
88Greene County2,308-0.2%
89Jasper County2,044+1.2%
90Putnam County1,914+7.6%
91Hamilton County1,905-6.2%
92Menard County1,774-6.4%
93Schuyler County1,539-20.5%
94Pulaski County1,398-0.6%
95Stark County1,355+0.1%
96Gallatin County1,241+20.7%
97Alexander County1,177-6.3%
98Henderson County1,056-3.7%
99Scott County1,019-3.7%
100Calhoun County771+1%
101Hardin County685-7.8%
102Pope County568+1.4%

Other periods

About this ranking

Average number of jobs covered by unemployment insurance during the year, all industries, private and government, from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Counted where the job is located, from the reports employers file each quarter; monthly employment counts the jobs in the pay period that includes the 12th.

Counts jobs, not people: someone with two jobs counts twice. Covers about 95 percent of US wage and salary jobs. Excludes the self-employed, most agricultural workers on small farms, the armed forces, elected officials in most states, most railroad employees, some domestic workers and most student workers at schools. A count of employer reports, not a survey estimate like oews_employment.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties (Counties in Illinois by covered employment (QCEW), 2016) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv

MLA 9

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in Illinois by covered employment (QCEW), 2016. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/illinois-counties?period=2016. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Counties in Illinois by covered employment (QCEW), 2016. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/illinois-counties?period=2016.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in Illinois by covered employment (QCEW), 2016 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/illinois-counties?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_illinois_by_2016,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in Illinois by covered employment (QCEW), 2016}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/illinois-counties?period=2016. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in Illinois by covered employment (QCEW), 2016
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/illinois-counties?period=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/illinois-counties?period=2016.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest covered employment (QCEW)?

Cook County, with 2,561,922 jobs in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which county has the lowest covered employment (QCEW)?

Pope County, with 568 jobs in 2016.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Covered employment (QCEW): other rankings

Counties in Illinois: more rankings