SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Chambana Today) — Illinois’ unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.4 percent in November, according to data released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The rate was also unchanged from September and was 0.5 percentage points lower than November one year ago.
October unemployment data for Illinois and the nation were unavailable due to a 43-day federal government shutdown, which prevented the collection of household labor force information. As a result, November figures reflect labor market activity during the week that included Nov. 12.
Total nonfarm payroll employment in Illinois was nearly unchanged in November, decreasing by 9,700 jobs, or 0.2 percent, to a total of 6.15 million jobs statewide. September payroll figures were revised downward to a loss of 3,400 jobs.
The largest monthly job losses occurred in Transportation and Utilities, Leisure and Hospitality, and Manufacturing. Job gains were reported in Construction and Private Education and Health Services.
Compared to November 2024, Illinois payroll employment declined by 3,200 jobs, a decrease of 0.1 percent, while national payroll employment increased by 0.6 percent over the same period. Over-the-year job losses in Illinois were concentrated in Trade, Transportation and Utilities, Leisure and Hospitality, and Professional and Business Services, while gains were led by Private Education and Health Services, Construction, and Information.
The number of unemployed individuals in Illinois totaled 288,600 in November, an increase of 0.5 percent from September but a decrease of 12 percent from one year earlier. The state’s labor force declined 0.3 percent from September and 1.6 percent over the year.
IDES officials noted that while the unemployment rate remains stable, disruptions caused by the federal shutdown created uncertainty in payroll data and workforce planning. The agency continues to support jobseekers and employers through hiring events, workforce partnerships, and the Illinois JobLink system, which currently lists more than 65,000 job openings statewide.