SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WMBD) — Two government agencies have confirmed that metro areas across Illinois are all seeing a decrease in unemployment.
The decrease occurred in all 12 Illinois metro areas for the last two months, according to information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
“Illinois continues to showcase the resiliency of our economy, with unemployment declining across all twelve metro areas for the second month in a row and consecutive months of job gains in Champaign, Chicago, and Springfield,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “The state remains committed to workforce development programs and resources that ensure communities across Illinois can fully benefit from them.”
In Illinois, the unemployment rate was down to 4.8% in July 2025, from 5.7% in July 2024. Locally, the Peoria area unemployment rate is down to 4.7% in July 2025 from 5.2% in July 2024. In the Bloomington area, the unemployment rate is down to 4.1% in July 2025 from 4.6% in July 2024.
The total number of nonfarm jobs has also increased in Illinois, with about 6,185,000 reported in July 2025, which is up about 16,500 jobs from the same time last year.
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