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 January 2026, at 12.2%. Naperville, IL had the lowest, at 3.4%. The median was 4.75% and the figure for Illinois was 4.9%. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Highest12.2Round Lake Beach, IL
Lowest3.4Naperville, IL
Median4.75104 cities
Illinois4.9History

Top 40 cities, January 2026

Round Lake Beach, IL: 12.2 %Round Lake Beach, IL12.2Chicago Heights, IL: 10.6 %Chicago Heights, IL10.6Carpentersville, IL: 9.9 %Carpentersville, IL9.9Kankakee, IL: 9.7 %Kankakee, IL9.7Waukegan, IL: 9.3 %Waukegan, IL9.3North Chicago, IL: 8.8 %North Chicago, IL8.8Dolton, IL: 8.7 %Dolton, IL8.7Maywood, IL: 8.7 %Maywood, IL8.7Elgin, IL: 8.6 %Elgin, IL8.6Belvidere, IL: 8.5 %Belvidere, IL8.5Zion, IL: 8.2 %Zion, IL8.2East St. Louis, IL: 7.6 %East St. Louis, IL7.6Decatur, IL: 7.4 %Decatur, IL7.4Harvey, IL: 7.4 %Harvey, IL7.4Rockford, IL: 7.3 %Rockford, IL7.3Danville, IL: 7.2 %Danville, IL7.2Joliet, IL: 7.2 %Joliet, IL7.2Calumet City, IL: 7.1 %Calumet City, IL7.1Hanover Park, IL: 7.1 %Hanover Park, IL7.1Park Forest, IL: 6.9 %Park Forest, IL6.9West Chicago, IL: 6.8 %West Chicago, IL6.8Pekin, IL: 6.7 %Pekin, IL6.7Lansing, IL: 6.6 %Lansing, IL6.6Peoria, IL: 6.5 %Peoria, IL6.5Streamwood, IL: 6.5 %Streamwood, IL6.5Melrose Park, IL: 6.4 %Melrose Park, IL6.4Mundelein, IL: 6.4 %Mundelein, IL6.4Burbank, IL: 6.2 %Burbank, IL6.2Cicero, IL: 6.2 %Cicero, IL6.2Galesburg, IL: 6.2 %Galesburg, IL6.2Moline, IL: 6.2 %Moline, IL6.2Berwyn, IL: 6 %Berwyn, IL6Addison, IL: 5.8 %Addison, IL5.8Aurora, IL: 5.8 %Aurora, IL5.8Carbondale, IL: 5.8 %Carbondale, IL5.8Oak Lawn, IL: 5.7 %Oak Lawn, IL5.7Rock Island, IL: 5.7 %Rock Island, IL5.7Springfield, IL: 5.7 %Springfield, IL5.7Alton, IL: 5.6 %Alton, IL5.6Freeport, IL: 5.6 %Freeport, IL5.6Round Lake Beach, IL: 12.2 %Round Lake Beach, IL12.2Chicago Heights, IL: 10.6 %Chicago Heights, IL10.6Carpentersville, IL: 9.9 %Carpentersville, IL9.9Kankakee, IL: 9.7 %Kankakee, IL9.7Waukegan, IL: 9.3 %Waukegan, IL9.3North Chicago, IL: 8.8 %North Chicago, IL8.8Dolton, IL: 8.7 %Dolton, IL8.7Maywood, IL: 8.7 %Maywood, IL8.7Elgin, IL: 8.6 %Elgin, IL8.6Belvidere, IL: 8.5 %Belvidere, IL8.5Zion, IL: 8.2 %Zion, IL8.2East St. Louis, IL: 7.6 %East St. Louis, IL7.6Decatur, IL: 7.4 %Decatur, IL7.4Harvey, IL: 7.4 %Harvey, IL7.4Rockford, IL: 7.3 %Rockford, IL7.3Danville, IL: 7.2 %Danville, IL7.2Joliet, IL: 7.2 %Joliet, IL7.2Calumet City, IL: 7.1 %Calumet City, IL7.1Hanover Park, IL: 7.1 %Hanover Park, IL7.1Park Forest, IL: 6.9 %Park Forest, IL6.9West Chicago, IL: 6.8 %West Chicago, IL6.8Pekin, IL: 6.7 %Pekin, IL6.7Lansing, IL: 6.6 %Lansing, IL6.6Peoria, IL: 6.5 %Peoria, IL6.5Streamwood, IL: 6.5 %Streamwood, IL6.5Melrose Park, IL: 6.4 %Melrose Park, IL6.4Mundelein, IL: 6.4 %Mundelein, IL6.4Burbank, IL: 6.2 %Burbank, IL6.2Cicero, IL: 6.2 %Cicero, IL6.2Galesburg, IL: 6.2 %Galesburg, IL6.2Moline, IL: 6.2 %Moline, IL6.2Berwyn, IL: 6 %Berwyn, IL6Addison, IL: 5.8 %Addison, IL5.8Aurora, IL: 5.8 %Aurora, IL5.8Carbondale, IL: 5.8 %Carbondale, IL5.8Oak Lawn, IL: 5.7 %Oak Lawn, IL5.7Rock Island, IL: 5.7 %Rock Island, IL5.7Springfield, IL: 5.7 %Springfield, IL5.7Alton, IL: 5.6 %Alton, IL5.6Freeport, IL: 5.6 %Freeport, IL5.6
%. Source: BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCitiesJanuary 2026 (%)Change on January 2025
1Round Lake Beach, IL12.2+1.7 pts
2Chicago Heights, IL10.6+0.7 pts
3Carpentersville, IL9.9+1.4 pts
4Kankakee, IL9.7+1.5 pts
5Waukegan, IL9.3+1.1 pts
6North Chicago, IL8.8+2 pts
7Dolton, IL8.7+0.1 pts
7Maywood, IL8.7+0.1 pts
9Elgin, IL8.6+1 pts
10Belvidere, IL8.5+1 pts
11Zion, IL8.2+0.5 pts
12East St. Louis, IL7.6-0.1 pts
13Decatur, IL7.4+1.1 pts
13Harvey, IL7.4-0.8 pts
15Rockford, IL7.3+1.1 pts
16Danville, IL7.2+0.4 pts
16Joliet, IL7.2+0.5 pts
18Calumet City, IL7.1+0.1 pts
18Hanover Park, IL7.1+0.5 pts
20Park Forest, IL6.9+0.1 pts
21West Chicago, IL6.8+0.5 pts
22Pekin, IL6.7+0.6 pts
23Lansing, IL6.6+0.1 pts
24Peoria, IL6.5+0.7 pts
24Streamwood, IL6.5+0.4 pts
26Melrose Park, IL6.4+0.3 pts
26Mundelein, IL6.4+0.9 pts
28Burbank, IL6.2-0.2 pts
28Cicero, IL6.2-0.1 pts
28Galesburg, IL6.2+1.1 pts
28Moline, IL6.2+0.2 pts
32Berwyn, IL6+0.3 pts
33Addison, IL5.8+0.4 pts
33Aurora, IL5.8+0.8 pts
33Carbondale, IL5.8+0.8 pts
36Oak Lawn, IL5.7+0.4 pts
36Rock Island, IL5.7+0.1 pts
36Springfield, IL5.7+0.8 pts
39Alton, IL5.6+1.2 pts
39Freeport, IL5.6+0.6 pts
41Chicago, IL5.4+0.3 pts
42DeKalb, IL5.3+0.7 pts
42Woodstock, IL5.3+0.2 pts
44Belleville, IL5.2+0.7 pts
45Oak Forest, IL5.1+0.1 pts
45Romeoville, IL5.1+0.2 pts
47Elmwood Park, IL5-0.1 pts
47Urbana, IL5+1.2 pts
49Lake in the Hills, IL4.9+0.2 pts
50Des Plaines, IL4.80 pts
50Glendale Heights, IL4.8+0.1 pts
50Wheeling, IL4.8+0.2 pts
53Gurnee, IL4.7+1 pts
53Yorkville, IL4.7+0.6 pts
55Bolingbrook, IL4.6+0.3 pts
55Granite City, IL4.6+0.1 pts
55Lockport, IL4.6+0.3 pts
55Oswego, IL4.6+0.8 pts
55Tinley Park, IL4.6+0.2 pts
60Champaign, IL4.5+0.8 pts
60St. Charles, IL4.5+1.1 pts
62Bloomington, IL4.4+0.3 pts
62Collinsville, IL4.4+0.4 pts
62Evanston, IL4.4+0.4 pts
62Huntley, IL4.4+0.2 pts
62McHenry, IL4.40 pts
62Woodridge, IL4.4+0.6 pts
68Oak Park, IL4.3+0.3 pts
68Palatine, IL4.3-0.1 pts
68Vernon Hills, IL4.3+0.6 pts
71Algonquin, IL4.2+0.2 pts
71Batavia, IL4.2+0.6 pts
71New Lenox, IL4.2-0.2 pts
71Normal, IL4.2+0.7 pts
71O'Fallon, IL4.2+0.6 pts
71Orland Park, IL4.2+0.1 pts
71Skokie, IL4.2+0.1 pts
78Bartlett, IL4.10 pts
78Crystal Lake, IL4.10 pts
78Plainfield, IL4.1+0.5 pts
78Westmont, IL4.1+0.3 pts
82Elk Grove Village, IL4-0.4 pts
82Highland Park, IL4+0.4 pts
82Hoffman Estates, IL40 pts
82Homer Glen, IL4-0.1 pts
82Morton Grove, IL4+0.1 pts
82Niles, IL4-0.1 pts
82Schaumburg, IL4+0.2 pts
89Edwardsville, IL3.9+0.9 pts
89Elmhurst, IL3.9+0.1 pts
89Glen Ellyn, IL3.9+0.2 pts
92Carol Stream, IL3.8+0.1 pts
92Lombard, IL3.8-0.2 pts
92Quincy, IL3.8+0.2 pts
95Buffalo Grove, IL3.7+0.1 pts
95Mount Prospect, IL3.7+0.1 pts
95Northbrook, IL3.7+0.2 pts
95Wheaton, IL3.7+0.2 pts
95Wilmette, IL3.7+0.4 pts
100Arlington Heights, IL3.6+0.1 pts
100Downers Grove, IL3.60 pts
100Glenview, IL3.6+0.1 pts
103Park Ridge, IL3.5+0.1 pts
104Naperville, 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, 2026-01) [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, 2026-01. 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=2026-01. 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, 2026-01. 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=2026-01.

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, 2026-01 [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=2026-01 (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, 2026-01}},
  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=2026-01. 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, 2026-01
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=2026-01
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate/illinois-cities?period=2026-01.
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 12.2% in January 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which city has the lowest unemployment rate?

Naperville, IL, with 3.4% in January 2026.

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