Illinois QC unemployment drops to 5% in March, IDES reports

The unemployment rate over the year decreased in 11 of Illinois’ metro areas, including the Quad Cities, and increased in one for the year ending March 2025, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced. Citing data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in its monthly jobs report, IDES also said total nonfarm […]

The unemployment rate over the year decreased in 11 of Illinois’ metro areas, including the Quad Cities, and increased in one for the year ending March 2025, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced. Citing data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in its monthly jobs report, IDES also said total nonfarm jobs over the year increased in six metros and decreased in six. "Illinois continues to demonstrate the strength and resilience of its labor market across metro areas statewide,” Illinois Deputy Gov. Andy Manar announced in a news release. “We remain focused on expanding opportunities that drive progress for workers, businesses, and the state as a whole.” The metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) posting the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were: Champaign-Urbana MSA (+1.9%, +2,300); Elgin Metropolitan Division (+1.3%, +3,700); Lake County Metropolitan Division (+0.6%, +2,000); and the Rockford MSA (+0.6%, +900). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg Metropolitan Division were up +10,000 (+0.3%).  The MSAs with the largest over-the-year decreases in total nonfarm jobs were: Bloomington MSA (-2.5%, -2,400); Decatur MSA (-2.5%, -1,200); and the Illinois section of the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA (-1.8%, -1,600).  Industries that saw job growth in the majority of the 12 metros included: Private Education and Health Services (11 areas); Government (eight areas); and Mining and Construction (seven areas). The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases were: Lake County (-1.6 points to 4.6%); Rockford (-1.5 points to 5.0%); and Elgin (-1.4 points to 4.4%). The Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg metro reported the only rate increase – +0.7 point to 5.5%. In the Illinois section of Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5% in March 2025, which compared with 5.6% a year earlier. The QC’s total nonfarm employment decreased -1,600 jobs compared to March 2024. The Illinois QC ended this March with 87,500 non-farm jobs.  Across the Illinois Quad Cities region, these sectors saw over-the-year payroll gains: Government (+200), Other Services (+200) and Retail Trade (+100). Meanwhile these Quad Cities sectors recorded unemployment declines over the year: Professional-Business Services (-600); Manufacturing, Wholesale Trade and Private Education-Health Services were all down (-300) jobs; Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities along with Mining-Construction and Leisure-Hospitality each reported declines of 200 jobs over the year.  Other March unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) that IDES reported across the Quad Cities region included: 

• Counties: Rock Island, 5%, -0.5% over the year; Henry, 4.6%, -0.6%; and Mercer, 5.1%, -0.9%. 
• Cities: Moline, 4.7%, -0.7; Rock Island, 4.9%, -0.5%; and Galesburg, 4.6%, -0.6%.

The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. A person who exhausts benefits, or is ineligible, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.