Illinois Unemployment Rate 4.9 for
Illinois Unemployment Rate came in at 4.9 (Percent) for Jul 2026, down 3.92% from 5.1 the prior month and 13.95% above its level of 4.3 one year ago. The series has averaged 6.7 since 1976, reaching a record high of 18.3 in April 2020 and a record low of 3.6 in December 2019.
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<iframe src="https://marketxls.com/embed/indicators/illinois-unemployment-rate" width="100%" height="460" frameborder="0" title="Illinois Unemployment Rate chart"></iframe><p style="font:12px/1.4 sans-serif;margin:4px 0 0"><a href="https://marketxls.com/indicators/illinois-unemployment-rate" rel="nofollow">Illinois Unemployment Rate chart - MarketXLS</a></p>Historical Data
⋮ | ⋮ |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2026 | 4.9 |
| June 1, 2026 | 5.1 |
| May 1, 2026 | 5.1 |
| April 1, 2026 | 5.1 |
| March 1, 2026 | 5.1 |
| February 1, 2026 | 5 |
| January 1, 2026 | 4.9 |
| December 1, 2025 | 4.7 |
| November 1, 2025 | 4.7 |
| September 1, 2025 | 4.5 |
| August 1, 2025 | 4.3 |
| July 1, 2025 | 4.3 |
| June 1, 2025 | 4.3 |
| May 1, 2025 | 4.4 |
| April 1, 2025 | 4.5 |
| March 1, 2025 | 4.6 |
| February 1, 2025 | 4.7 |
| January 1, 2025 | 4.7 |
| December 1, 2024 | 4.8 |
| November 1, 2024 | 4.8 |
⋮ | ⋮ |
|---|---|
| March 1, 2001 | 5.2 |
| February 1, 2001 | 5.1 |
| January 1, 2001 | 5 |
| December 1, 2000 | 4.8 |
| November 1, 2000 | 4.6 |
| October 1, 2000 | 4.5 |
| September 1, 2000 | 4.4 |
| August 1, 2000 | 4.4 |
| July 1, 2000 | 4.4 |
| June 1, 2000 | 4.4 |
| May 1, 2000 | 4.4 |
| April 1, 2000 | 4.4 |
| March 1, 2000 | 4.4 |
| February 1, 2000 | 4.4 |
| January 1, 2000 | 4.4 |
| December 1, 1999 | 4.4 |
| November 1, 1999 | 4.4 |
| October 1, 1999 | 4.5 |
| September 1, 1999 | 4.6 |
| August 1, 1999 | 4.6 |
About Illinois Unemployment Rate
What it measures
FRED carries the Illinois unemployment rate as series ILUR, a monthly, seasonally adjusted measure from the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics program. The state's economy centers on Chicago, a national hub for freight rail and logistics, derivatives exchanges and finance, and diversified manufacturing, with productive farmland covering much of the rest of the state.
Why it matters
Illinois sits at the crossroads of US goods movement, so its labor market reflects freight volumes, warehouse activity, and factory output. Weakness here often shows up when trade and industrial production slow. The Chicago financial and professional services base adds a white-collar dimension, broadening what the series says about the Midwest economy.
How to read it
Check the gap versus the national unemployment rate; Illinois has frequently run above it, so the trend in the spread is more informative than the level. Rising joblessness alongside slowing freight and manufacturing indicators strengthens the signal. Treat single-month moves cautiously, as state-level samples are smaller than the national survey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current Illinois Unemployment Rate?
Illinois Unemployment Rate is 4.9 (Percent) as of July 2026.
What is the all-time high and low of Illinois Unemployment Rate?
The highest value on record is 18.3 (April 2020) and the lowest is 3.6 (December 2019).
How often is Illinois Unemployment Rate updated?
Illinois Unemployment Rate is published on a monthly basis, sourced from Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
Stats
| Last Value | 4.9 |
| Latest Period | Jul 2026 |
| Last Updated | August 26 2026, 04:13 |
| Value Previous Month | 5.1 |
| Change From Previous Month | -3.92% |
| Value 1 Year Ago | 4.3 |
| Change From Year Ago | 13.95% |
| Average Growth Rate | -0.59%/yr |
| Record High (Apr 2020) | 18.3 |
| Record Low (Dec 2019) | 3.6 |
| Long-Term Average | 6.7 |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Adjustment | Seasonally Adjusted |
| Unit | Percent |
Annual Averages
| 2026 | 5.03 |
| 2025 | 4.52 |
| 2024 | 4.98 |
| 2023 | 4.47 |
| 2022 | 4.57 |
| 2021 | 6.1 |
| 2020 | 9.33 |
| 2019 | 3.98 |
| 2018 | 4.39 |
| 2017 | 4.96 |
| 2016 | 5.88 |
| 2015 | 5.99 |
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