Data / Rankings / Unemployment rate / Cities in Illinois

Cities in Illinois by unemployment rate

Kankakee, IL had the highest unemployment rate of 104 cities in November 2025, at 8.2%. Mount Prospect, IL had the lowest, at 3.7%. The median was 4.55% and the figure for Illinois was 4.7%. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Highest8.2Kankakee, IL
Lowest3.7Mount Prospect, IL
Median4.55104 cities
Illinois4.7History

Top 40 cities, November 2025

Kankakee, IL: 8.2 %Kankakee, IL8.2Dolton, IL: 8.1 %Dolton, IL8.1East St. Louis, IL: 7.8 %East St. Louis, IL7.8Maywood, IL: 7.4 %Maywood, IL7.4Decatur, IL: 7.3 %Decatur, IL7.3Chicago Heights, IL: 7.2 %Chicago Heights, IL7.2Danville, IL: 7.2 %Danville, IL7.2Harvey, IL: 7.1 %Harvey, IL7.1Park Forest, IL: 6.7 %Park Forest, IL6.7Rockford, IL: 6.7 %Rockford, IL6.7Calumet City, IL: 6.4 %Calumet City, IL6.4Galesburg, IL: 6.4 %Galesburg, IL6.4Round Lake Beach, IL: 6.2 %Round Lake Beach, IL6.2Belvidere, IL: 6.1 %Belvidere, IL6.1Carbondale, IL: 6 %Carbondale, IL6Lansing, IL: 6 %Lansing, IL6Peoria, IL: 6 %Peoria, IL6North Chicago, IL: 5.9 %North Chicago, IL5.9Carpentersville, IL: 5.7 %Carpentersville, IL5.7Waukegan, IL: 5.7 %Waukegan, IL5.7Zion, IL: 5.7 %Zion, IL5.7DeKalb, IL: 5.6 %DeKalb, IL5.6Pekin, IL: 5.6 %Pekin, IL5.6Rock Island, IL: 5.6 %Rock Island, IL5.6Alton, IL: 5.5 %Alton, IL5.5Elgin, IL: 5.5 %Elgin, IL5.5Belleville, IL: 5.4 %Belleville, IL5.4Freeport, IL: 5.4 %Freeport, IL5.4Moline, IL: 5.4 %Moline, IL5.4Springfield, IL: 5.4 %Springfield, IL5.4Granite City, IL: 5.3 %Granite City, IL5.3Chicago, IL: 5.1 %Chicago, IL5.1Joliet, IL: 5.1 %Joliet, IL5.1Urbana, IL: 5.1 %Urbana, IL5.1Berwyn, IL: 5 %Berwyn, IL5Oak Lawn, IL: 5 %Oak Lawn, IL5Vernon Hills, IL: 4.9 %Vernon Hills, IL4.9Aurora, IL: 4.8 %Aurora, IL4.8Gurnee, IL: 4.8 %Gurnee, IL4.8Champaign, IL: 4.7 %Champaign, IL4.7Kankakee, IL: 8.2 %Kankakee, IL8.2Dolton, IL: 8.1 %Dolton, IL8.1East St. Louis, IL: 7.8 %East St. Louis, IL7.8Maywood, IL: 7.4 %Maywood, IL7.4Decatur, IL: 7.3 %Decatur, IL7.3Chicago Heights, IL: 7.2 %Chicago Heights, IL7.2Danville, IL: 7.2 %Danville, IL7.2Harvey, IL: 7.1 %Harvey, IL7.1Park Forest, IL: 6.7 %Park Forest, IL6.7Rockford, IL: 6.7 %Rockford, IL6.7Calumet City, IL: 6.4 %Calumet City, IL6.4Galesburg, IL: 6.4 %Galesburg, IL6.4Round Lake Beach, IL: 6.2 %Round Lake Beach, IL6.2Belvidere, IL: 6.1 %Belvidere, IL6.1Carbondale, IL: 6 %Carbondale, IL6Lansing, IL: 6 %Lansing, IL6Peoria, IL: 6 %Peoria, IL6North Chicago, IL: 5.9 %North Chicago, IL5.9Carpentersville, IL: 5.7 %Carpentersville, IL5.7Waukegan, IL: 5.7 %Waukegan, IL5.7Zion, IL: 5.7 %Zion, IL5.7DeKalb, IL: 5.6 %DeKalb, IL5.6Pekin, IL: 5.6 %Pekin, IL5.6Rock Island, IL: 5.6 %Rock Island, IL5.6Alton, IL: 5.5 %Alton, IL5.5Elgin, IL: 5.5 %Elgin, IL5.5Belleville, IL: 5.4 %Belleville, IL5.4Freeport, IL: 5.4 %Freeport, IL5.4Moline, IL: 5.4 %Moline, IL5.4Springfield, IL: 5.4 %Springfield, IL5.4Granite City, IL: 5.3 %Granite City, IL5.3Chicago, IL: 5.1 %Chicago, IL5.1Joliet, IL: 5.1 %Joliet, IL5.1Urbana, IL: 5.1 %Urbana, IL5.1Berwyn, IL: 5 %Berwyn, IL5Oak Lawn, IL: 5 %Oak Lawn, IL5Vernon Hills, IL: 4.9 %Vernon Hills, IL4.9Aurora, IL: 4.8 %Aurora, IL4.8Gurnee, IL: 4.8 %Gurnee, IL4.8Champaign, IL: 4.7 %Champaign, IL4.7
%. Source: BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCitiesNovember 2025 (%)Change on November 2024
1Kankakee, IL8.2+1.3 pts
2Dolton, IL8.1-1 pts
3East St. Louis, IL7.8-0.1 pts
4Maywood, IL7.4-0.9 pts
5Decatur, IL7.3+1.4 pts
6Chicago Heights, IL7.2+0.5 pts
6Danville, IL7.2+0.2 pts
8Harvey, IL7.1-0.7 pts
9Park Forest, IL6.7-0.2 pts
9Rockford, IL6.7+1.3 pts
11Calumet City, IL6.4-0.8 pts
11Galesburg, IL6.4+1.8 pts
13Round Lake Beach, IL6.2+1.3 pts
14Belvidere, IL6.1+1.2 pts
15Carbondale, IL6+1.3 pts
15Lansing, IL6-0.4 pts
15Peoria, IL6+0.9 pts
18North Chicago, IL5.9+1.4 pts
19Carpentersville, IL5.7+1.3 pts
19Waukegan, IL5.7+0.9 pts
19Zion, IL5.7+0.6 pts
22DeKalb, IL5.6+1.2 pts
22Pekin, IL5.6+1.1 pts
22Rock Island, IL5.6+0.3 pts
25Alton, IL5.5+1.2 pts
25Elgin, IL5.5+0.7 pts
27Belleville, IL5.4+1 pts
27Freeport, IL5.4+0.7 pts
27Moline, IL5.4+0.1 pts
27Springfield, IL5.4+1.2 pts
31Granite City, IL5.3+0.9 pts
32Chicago, IL5.1-0.2 pts
32Joliet, IL5.1-0.1 pts
32Urbana, IL5.1+1.5 pts
35Berwyn, IL5+0.2 pts
35Oak Lawn, IL5-0.2 pts
37Vernon Hills, IL4.9+1.1 pts
38Aurora, IL4.8+0.6 pts
38Gurnee, IL4.8+1.4 pts
40Champaign, IL4.7+1.1 pts
40Elmwood Park, IL4.7-0.4 pts
40Evanston, IL4.7+0.3 pts
40Highland Park, IL4.7+0.9 pts
40Oak Park, IL4.7+0.1 pts
40St. Charles, IL4.7+1.2 pts
46Burbank, IL4.6-0.7 pts
46Hanover Park, IL4.6-0.4 pts
46Huntley, IL4.6+0.5 pts
46Mundelein, IL4.6+0.9 pts
46Normal, IL4.6+1 pts
46West Chicago, IL4.6+0.4 pts
46Yorkville, IL4.6+1.1 pts
53Batavia, IL4.5+0.9 pts
53Bloomington, IL4.5+0.9 pts
53O'Fallon, IL4.5+1.2 pts
53Oswego, IL4.5+0.9 pts
53Streamwood, IL4.50 pts
58Bolingbrook, IL4.4-0.2 pts
58Buffalo Grove, IL4.4+0.5 pts
58Cicero, IL4.4-0.1 pts
58Edwardsville, IL4.4+1.1 pts
58Melrose Park, IL4.4+0.1 pts
58Romeoville, IL4.4-0.2 pts
58Skokie, IL4.4+0.1 pts
65Morton Grove, IL4.30 pts
65Tinley Park, IL4.3-0.2 pts
65Wilmette, IL4.3+0.2 pts
68Collinsville, IL4.2+0.7 pts
68Elk Grove Village, IL4.2-0.1 pts
68Niles, IL4.2-0.3 pts
68Oak Forest, IL4.2-0.3 pts
68Orland Park, IL4.2+0.1 pts
73Des Plaines, IL4.1-0.5 pts
73Glendale Heights, IL4.1+0.1 pts
73Homer Glen, IL4.1-0.3 pts
73Lake in the Hills, IL4.1-0.3 pts
73Plainfield, IL4.1+0.3 pts
73Quincy, IL4.1+0.8 pts
73Schaumburg, IL4.1-0.1 pts
73Woodstock, IL4.1-0.1 pts
81Elmhurst, IL40 pts
81Glenview, IL40 pts
81Hoffman Estates, IL40 pts
81Lockport, IL40 pts
81New Lenox, IL40 pts
81Northbrook, IL40 pts
81Westmont, IL4-0.4 pts
81Woodridge, IL40 pts
89Algonquin, IL3.9+0.1 pts
89Arlington Heights, IL3.9+0.1 pts
89Carol Stream, IL3.9-0.2 pts
89Crystal Lake, IL3.90 pts
89Downers Grove, IL3.9-0.1 pts
89Glen Ellyn, IL3.9-0.2 pts
89McHenry, IL3.9+0.1 pts
89Naperville, IL3.9-0.2 pts
89Wheaton, IL3.9-0.1 pts
89Wheeling, IL3.9+0.1 pts
99Addison, IL3.8-0.1 pts
99Lombard, IL3.8-0.3 pts
99Palatine, IL3.8-0.2 pts
99Park Ridge, IL3.8-0.3 pts
103Bartlett, IL3.7-0.3 pts
103Mount Prospect, IL3.7-0.1 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Unemployed people as a percentage of the labour force, using the survey definition of unemployment: without work, available and looking for work.

More on how it is measured
  • Spain: EPA, aged 16 and over.
  • EU: Labour Force Survey, aged 15 to 74.
  • United States: civilian labour force aged 16 and over, from the Current Population Survey for the nation and from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics models, consistent with that survey, for states, counties and cities.
  • United Kingdom regions: Labour Force Survey, aged 16 and over, seasonally adjusted.
  • Canada: Labour Force Survey, aged 15 and over, seasonally adjusted, for the country and the provinces.
  • Australia: Labour Force Survey, aged 15 and over, seasonally adjusted, for the nation and the six states; the ABS publishes no seasonally adjusted series for the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
  • New Zealand: Household Labour Force Survey, aged 15 and over, seasonally adjusted for the country and not seasonally adjusted for regional council areas.
  • Norway: Statistics Norway Labour Force Survey, aged 15 to 74, seasonally adjusted monthly figures.
  • Sweden: Labour Force Survey, aged 15 to 74, seasonally adjusted and smoothed (the series Statistics Sweden gives in its monthly release), national.
  • Switzerland: Swiss Labour Force Survey (SLFS), ILO definition, permanent resident population aged 15 and over, seasonally adjusted quarterly averages, national.
  • For other countries, the source may be OECD survey-based rates, annual survey-based rates compiled by the ILO in ILOSTAT, or annual ILO modelled estimates published by the World Bank.
  • ILO modelled estimates cover ages 15 and over.
  • The World series uses those ILO modelled estimates.

Survey-based for national and Eurostat series. Available for Spain, regions, provinces, EU countries, US states, US counties, US cities (those of 25,000 or more and smaller New England cities), United Kingdom regions, Canadian provinces, Australia and its six states, New Zealand with 10 of its regions, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland (national), not Spanish municipalities. For Spanish municipalities use registered_unemployment_rate.

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

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29. 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). Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03) (Cities in Illinois by unemployment rate, 2025-11) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29

MLA 9

Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03), Cities in Illinois by unemployment rate, 2025-11. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 30 Sept. 2026, https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate/illinois-cities?period=2025-11. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). Cities in Illinois by unemployment rate, 2025-11. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate/illinois-cities?period=2025-11.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03), Cities in Illinois by unemployment rate, 2025-11 [Dataset]. Available at: https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate/illinois-cities?period=2025-11 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_cities_in_illinois_by_2026,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03): Cities in Illinois by unemployment rate, 2025-11}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate/illinois-cities?period=2025-11. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03): Cities in Illinois by unemployment rate, 2025-11
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/30
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate/illinois-cities?period=2025-11
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate/illinois-cities?period=2025-11.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Cities in Illinois by unemployment rate using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which city has the highest unemployment rate?

Kankakee, IL, with 8.2% in November 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which city has the lowest unemployment rate?

Mount Prospect, IL, with 3.7% in November 2025.

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, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Unemployment rate: other rankings

Cities in Illinois: more rankings