February 2025 | Released March 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In February, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 14, and remained unchanged in 29.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In February, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 23. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Wyoming. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Alaska.

Illinois Employment Snapshot

• In February, Illinois lost 6,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.8 percent. In the prior month, Illinois lost 4,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Illinois added 19,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 4.9 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Illinois is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Illinois’s private sector lost 900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 4,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Illinois lost 11,400 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Illinois fell by 7,047, and over the past 12 months it rose by 63,511.

• Illinois’s labor force participation rate fell to 65 percent in February from 65.1 percent and is tied for 15th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.2 percentage points.

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Illinois Payroll Employment

• Illinois lost 6,500 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Illinois lost 4,400 jobs. Illinois nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Illinois is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Illinois lost 900 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Illinois lost 11,400 jobs. Illinois private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. Illinois is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during February were Construction (2,900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (2,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-3,100) and Government (-5,600).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (20,700) and Government (14,900).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-7,300) and Professional and Business Services (-13,900).

Illinois Labor Force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in Illinois fell to 65 percent in February from 65.1 percent in the prior month.

• Illinois is tied for 15th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Illinois was 65.6 percent occurring in April 2016, and the 10-year low was 61.8 percent in June 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in February.