The unemployment rate was down in 11 Illinois metropolitan areas, including the Quad Cities.
The region also saw one of the largest decreases in year-over-year nonfarm jobs in January, according to the latest report from Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).
The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Elgin Metro Division, +2.2%, +6,200; the Peoria MSA, +1.8%, +3,000; and the Rockford MSA, +1.5%, +2,200. Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg Metro Division also were up +19,000 or +0.5%, according to data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for IDES.
The metro areas which posted the largest over-the-year decreases in total nonfarm jobs were: the Illinois section of the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, -1.1%, -1,000; the Champaign-Urbana MSA, -1.%, -1,200; and the Decatur MSA, -0.6%, -300. Total nonfarm jobs were unchanged in the Bloomington MSA, according to the IDES report released on Friday, March 21.
The sectors with the largest payroll gains over-the-year for the Quad Cities MSA were Government, +400; Retail Trade, +200; and Other Services,+100. Sectors that recovered declined over-the-year were Professional and Business Services, -600); Manufacturing, -400; Wholesale Trade, -300; Private Education-Health Services, -200); Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities, -100; and Leisure-Hospitality, -100).
The unemployment rate for the Quad Cities metro area was 6.1% in January 2025, down -.2% from January 2024. The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate decreases over that period were the Rockford MSA, -1.3 points to 5.8%;, the Kankakee MSA, -1.2 points to 6.3%, and the Lake County Metro, -1.1 points to 5.5%. The Chicago Metro Division reported the only increase, +0.3 point to 5.0%.
Industries that saw job growth in the majority of the state’s 12 metro areas included: Private Education and Health Services (11 areas); Government (nine areas); and Mining and Construction and Retail Trade (seven areas each).
Illinois ‘laser-focused’
“As unemployment decreased over the last year in most metro areas and payroll remains steady, Illinois continues to prioritize region-specific support for jobseekers through local workforce partners,” Illinois Deputy Governor Andy Manar said in the IDES news release. “Illinois also remains laser-focused on investing in our incomparable workforce and creating a positive business environment to bolster economic opportunity in every corner of the state.”
Year-over-year unemployment rates for January in the Illinois Quad Cities metro area also included:
- Henry County – 5.8% down -0.1% from 5.9%
- Mercer County – 6.4% down -1.1% from 7.5%.
- Rock Island County – 6.2% up from 5.8%.
- City of Moline – 6.3% down -0.1%. from 6.4%.
- City of Rock Island – 5.8% unchanged from 5.8%.
- City of Galesburg – 5.2% down 0.7%.
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.
