Data / Rankings / Unemployment rate / Cities in Illinois

Cities in Illinois by unemployment rate

Round Lake Beach, IL had the highest unemployment rate of 104 cities in December 2025, at 10%. Park Ridge, IL had the lowest, at 3.4%. The median was 4.5% and the figure for Illinois was 4.7%. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Highest10Round Lake Beach, IL
Lowest3.4Park Ridge, IL
Median4.5104 cities
Illinois4.7History

Top 40 cities, December 2025

Round Lake Beach, IL: 10 %Round Lake Beach, IL10Kankakee, IL: 8.9 %Kankakee, IL8.9Carpentersville, IL: 8.3 %Carpentersville, IL8.3Chicago Heights, IL: 8.2 %Chicago Heights, IL8.2Waukegan, IL: 8.1 %Waukegan, IL8.1North Chicago, IL: 7.7 %North Chicago, IL7.7Belvidere, IL: 7.6 %Belvidere, IL7.6East St. Louis, IL: 7.6 %East St. Louis, IL7.6Dolton, IL: 7.4 %Dolton, IL7.4Elgin, IL: 7.3 %Elgin, IL7.3Decatur, IL: 7.2 %Decatur, IL7.2Maywood, IL: 7.2 %Maywood, IL7.2Zion, IL: 7.2 %Zion, IL7.2Rockford, IL: 6.9 %Rockford, IL6.9Danville, IL: 6.8 %Danville, IL6.8Harvey, IL: 6.6 %Harvey, IL6.6Galesburg, IL: 6.5 %Galesburg, IL6.5Carbondale, IL: 6.2 %Carbondale, IL6.2Moline, IL: 6.2 %Moline, IL6.2Pekin, IL: 6.2 %Pekin, IL6.2Peoria, IL: 6.2 %Peoria, IL6.2Park Forest, IL: 6.1 %Park Forest, IL6.1Calumet City, IL: 6 %Calumet City, IL6Mundelein, IL: 5.8 %Mundelein, IL5.8Rock Island, IL: 5.8 %Rock Island, IL5.8Joliet, IL: 5.7 %Joliet, IL5.7DeKalb, IL: 5.6 %DeKalb, IL5.6Freeport, IL: 5.6 %Freeport, IL5.6Hanover Park, IL: 5.6 %Hanover Park, IL5.6Springfield, IL: 5.6 %Springfield, IL5.6Lansing, IL: 5.4 %Lansing, IL5.4West Chicago, IL: 5.4 %West Chicago, IL5.4Aurora, IL: 5.3 %Aurora, IL5.3Urbana, IL: 5.3 %Urbana, IL5.3Alton, IL: 5.2 %Alton, IL5.2Belleville, IL: 5.2 %Belleville, IL5.2Streamwood, IL: 5.2 %Streamwood, IL5.2Melrose Park, IL: 5.1 %Melrose Park, IL5.1Burbank, IL: 5 %Burbank, IL5Cicero, IL: 5 %Cicero, IL5Round Lake Beach, IL: 10 %Round Lake Beach, IL10Kankakee, IL: 8.9 %Kankakee, IL8.9Carpentersville, IL: 8.3 %Carpentersville, IL8.3Chicago Heights, IL: 8.2 %Chicago Heights, IL8.2Waukegan, IL: 8.1 %Waukegan, IL8.1North Chicago, IL: 7.7 %North Chicago, IL7.7Belvidere, IL: 7.6 %Belvidere, IL7.6East St. Louis, IL: 7.6 %East St. Louis, IL7.6Dolton, IL: 7.4 %Dolton, IL7.4Elgin, IL: 7.3 %Elgin, IL7.3Decatur, IL: 7.2 %Decatur, IL7.2Maywood, IL: 7.2 %Maywood, IL7.2Zion, IL: 7.2 %Zion, IL7.2Rockford, IL: 6.9 %Rockford, IL6.9Danville, IL: 6.8 %Danville, IL6.8Harvey, IL: 6.6 %Harvey, IL6.6Galesburg, IL: 6.5 %Galesburg, IL6.5Carbondale, IL: 6.2 %Carbondale, IL6.2Moline, IL: 6.2 %Moline, IL6.2Pekin, IL: 6.2 %Pekin, IL6.2Peoria, IL: 6.2 %Peoria, IL6.2Park Forest, IL: 6.1 %Park Forest, IL6.1Calumet City, IL: 6 %Calumet City, IL6Mundelein, IL: 5.8 %Mundelein, IL5.8Rock Island, IL: 5.8 %Rock Island, IL5.8Joliet, IL: 5.7 %Joliet, IL5.7DeKalb, IL: 5.6 %DeKalb, IL5.6Freeport, IL: 5.6 %Freeport, IL5.6Hanover Park, IL: 5.6 %Hanover Park, IL5.6Springfield, IL: 5.6 %Springfield, IL5.6Lansing, IL: 5.4 %Lansing, IL5.4West Chicago, IL: 5.4 %West Chicago, IL5.4Aurora, IL: 5.3 %Aurora, IL5.3Urbana, IL: 5.3 %Urbana, IL5.3Alton, IL: 5.2 %Alton, IL5.2Belleville, IL: 5.2 %Belleville, IL5.2Streamwood, IL: 5.2 %Streamwood, IL5.2Melrose Park, IL: 5.1 %Melrose Park, IL5.1Burbank, IL: 5 %Burbank, IL5Cicero, IL: 5 %Cicero, IL5
%. Source: BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCitiesDecember 2025 (%)Change on December 2024
1Round Lake Beach, IL10+2 pts
2Kankakee, IL8.9+1.8 pts
3Carpentersville, IL8.3+1.8 pts
4Chicago Heights, IL8.2+0.7 pts
5Waukegan, IL8.1+1.9 pts
6North Chicago, IL7.7+2.6 pts
7Belvidere, IL7.6+1.7 pts
7East St. Louis, IL7.6+0.7 pts
9Dolton, IL7.4-0.4 pts
10Elgin, IL7.3+1.2 pts
11Decatur, IL7.2+1.4 pts
11Maywood, IL7.2-0.4 pts
11Zion, IL7.2+1.3 pts
14Rockford, IL6.9+1.6 pts
15Danville, IL6.8+0.3 pts
16Harvey, IL6.6-0.4 pts
17Galesburg, IL6.5+1.9 pts
18Carbondale, IL6.2+1.8 pts
18Moline, IL6.2+1.3 pts
18Pekin, IL6.2+1.2 pts
18Peoria, IL6.2+1 pts
22Park Forest, IL6.1-0.1 pts
23Calumet City, IL60 pts
24Mundelein, IL5.8+1.3 pts
24Rock Island, IL5.8+0.9 pts
26Joliet, IL5.7+0.3 pts
27DeKalb, IL5.6+1.5 pts
27Freeport, IL5.6+0.9 pts
27Hanover Park, IL5.6+0.2 pts
27Springfield, IL5.6+1.4 pts
31Lansing, IL5.4-0.2 pts
31West Chicago, IL5.4+0.6 pts
33Aurora, IL5.3+1 pts
33Urbana, IL5.3+1.9 pts
35Alton, IL5.2+1.2 pts
35Belleville, IL5.2+1.2 pts
35Streamwood, IL5.2+0.2 pts
38Melrose Park, IL5.1+0.4 pts
39Burbank, IL5-0.4 pts
39Cicero, IL5+0.1 pts
39Granite City, IL5+1.1 pts
42Berwyn, IL4.9+0.3 pts
43Champaign, IL4.8+1.4 pts
43Oak Lawn, IL4.8+0.2 pts
45Addison, IL4.7+0.2 pts
45Gurnee, IL4.7+1.6 pts
45Normal, IL4.7+1.4 pts
45Yorkville, IL4.7+1.1 pts
49Chicago, IL4.60 pts
49Oswego, IL4.6+1.3 pts
51Bloomington, IL4.5+0.9 pts
51St. Charles, IL4.5+1.2 pts
51Vernon Hills, IL4.5+1 pts
54Batavia, IL4.4+1.2 pts
54Collinsville, IL4.4+1.3 pts
54Highland Park, IL4.4+1.1 pts
57Edwardsville, IL4.3+1.3 pts
57O'Fallon, IL4.3+1.1 pts
57Romeoville, IL4.30 pts
57Woodstock, IL4.3+0.1 pts
61Elmwood Park, IL4.2-0.6 pts
61Evanston, IL4.2+0.4 pts
61Glendale Heights, IL4.2+0.2 pts
61Oak Forest, IL4.20 pts
65Bolingbrook, IL4.1+0.1 pts
65Des Plaines, IL4.1-0.2 pts
65Huntley, IL4.1+0.5 pts
65Lake in the Hills, IL4.1+0.2 pts
65Wheeling, IL4.1+0.1 pts
70Quincy, IL4+0.9 pts
70Tinley Park, IL4+0.2 pts
72Algonquin, IL3.9+0.4 pts
72Buffalo Grove, IL3.9+0.5 pts
72McHenry, IL3.9+0.3 pts
72Oak Park, IL3.9+0.3 pts
76New Lenox, IL3.80 pts
76Orland Park, IL3.8+0.2 pts
76Palatine, IL3.8-0.1 pts
76Skokie, IL3.8+0.1 pts
76Woodridge, IL3.8+0.3 pts
81Crystal Lake, IL3.70 pts
81Elk Grove Village, IL3.7-0.1 pts
81Hoffman Estates, IL3.7+0.1 pts
81Homer Glen, IL3.7-0.2 pts
81Lockport, IL3.7+0.2 pts
81Morton Grove, IL3.7+0.2 pts
81Niles, IL3.7-0.2 pts
81Wilmette, IL3.7+0.3 pts
89Elmhurst, IL3.6+0.2 pts
89Plainfield, IL3.6+0.3 pts
89Westmont, IL3.6-0.2 pts
92Bartlett, IL3.5-0.1 pts
92Carol Stream, IL3.5-0.2 pts
92Schaumburg, IL3.5-0.1 pts
92Wheaton, IL3.5+0.1 pts
96Arlington Heights, IL3.40 pts
96Downers Grove, IL3.40 pts
96Glen Ellyn, IL3.40 pts
96Glenview, IL3.40 pts
96Lombard, IL3.4-0.1 pts
96Mount Prospect, IL3.4+0.1 pts
96Naperville, IL3.4+0.1 pts
96Northbrook, IL3.4+0.2 pts
96Park Ridge, IL3.40 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, 2025-12) [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, 2025-12. 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=2025-12. 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, 2025-12. 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=2025-12.

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, 2025-12 [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=2025-12 (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, 2025-12}},
  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=2025-12. 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, 2025-12
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=2025-12
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate/illinois-cities?period=2025-12.
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?

Round Lake Beach, IL, with 10% in December 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which city has the lowest unemployment rate?

Park Ridge, IL, with 3.4% in December 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