The unemployment rate – and the total number of jobs available – both fell in the Quad Cities area in June, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data reported by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).
The jobless rate for the QC was listed at 4.2% in June, falling 1.2% compared to June 2024 when the rate was 5.4%.
However, while the unemployment rate fell, so did the number of jobs. Total nonfarm jobs in June in the Quad Cities was listed at 87,300, according to IDES. That is a decrease of 1,300 nonfarm jobs, or -1.5% from June 2024 when the total was 88,600.
In Rock Island County, the jobless rate was 4.2% last month compared to 5.4% a year ago. The unemployment rate also fell in the cities of Rock Island and Moline during the period. In Moline, June unemployment was 4% compared to 5.5% a year ago. In Rock Island, it was 4.4% in June compared to 5.6% for June 2024.
These Illinois Quad Cities sectors showed over-the-year gains: Other Services (+300); Private Education-Health Services (+200); and both Manufacturing and Government (+100).
Local job sectors posting over-the-year declines were: Professional-Business Services (-900); Wholesale Trade (-300); Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities, Financial Activities, and Leisure-Hospitality, all -200, and Retail Trade and Information, both down -100.
The June 2025 jobs report also showed unemployment decreased in all 12 Illinois metro areas.
The St. Louis metro area unemployment rate reached a record low of 3.5% for the month. Over-the-year total nonfarm jobs increased in five metropolitan areas, leading to consecutive months with year-over-year growth. They were Champaign (five consecutive months); Chicago (12 consecutive months); and Springfield (20 consecutive months).
Metro areas see growth
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.
“Declines in unemployment across all metro areas, paired with sustained job growth in key regions highlight Illinois’ resilient economy and the importance of ongoing investments in workforce developments,” Illinois Deputy Gov. Andy Manar said in the IDES release. “Illinois is dedicated to building an economy that delivers meaningful opportunities and prosperity to communities statewide.”
The metro areas posting the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were: Champaign-Urbana MSA (+1.1%, +1,300 jobs); Chicago Metro Division (+0.7%, +28,400), and Rockford MSA (+0.5%, +700).
The Quad Cities was among the Illinois metro areas posting the largest over-the-year percentage decreases. Total nonfarm jobs in the Illinois section of the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA were down -1.5%, or -1,300 jobs. The other largest nonfarm job declines were Bloomington’s MSA, which was down -1.3% or -1,200 jobs; and the Kankakee MSA, which was down -0.9% or down -400 jobs.
Industries that saw job growth in a majority of the 12 metro areas included: Private Education and Health Services (11 areas); Government (nine areas); Mining and Construction (eight areas); and Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities (seven areas).
IDES recently reported that June unemployment across the state was 4.5%, which compared to 5.7% in June 2024. The statewide nonfarm job total was at 6,227,500 in June, which was up from 6.19 million a year ago.
