Chicago Metro Ends 2025 With Record December Job Total As Local Unemployment Rises

CHICAGO — Unemployment rates rose over the year in Ogle, Lee and DeKalb counties and across the Rockford metro area in December 2025, even as the Chicago metropolitan area ended the year with a record number of December jobs and a year and a half of steady job growth, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Ogle County unemployment increased to 5.6 percent, Lee County rose to 5.5 percent, DeKalb County climbed to 5.3 percent and the Rockford metro area rose to 6.2 percent, while total nonfarm employment in Rockford declined by 600 jobs over the year. Chicago reported 3.86 million nonfarm jobs in December, up 28,800 from a year earlier, marking 18 consecutive months of year over year job growth, while its unemployment rate held steady at 4.4 percent. Statewide, Illinois lost 5,300 nonfarm jobs over the year and the unemployment rate increased to 4.8 percent, with unemployment rising in 11 of 12 metro areas as national economic conditions continued to affect regions unevenly.