Counties with the highest unemployment in Illinois

2024 ended on a high note, with the unemployment rate relatively unchanged at 4.1%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Jan. 10.

Unemployment rates were higher in November than the prior year in 308 of 389 metro areas, though they dropped in 60 areas and remained unchanged in 21 areas, the BLS reported.

The lion's share of job growth remained in government, social assistance, and health care, with openings in nursing, residential care facilities, and home health care leading employment in the latter sector.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Illinois, using BLS data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in November 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Key takeaways: Biden's economic legacy, inauguration day, and immigration's impact on jobs

The latest BLS report highlights the final job figures under the Biden administration, giving the outgoing president a win during his final weeks in office. President Biden highlighted the creation of 16.6 million jobs during his term in a Jan. 11 statement.

"Although I inherited the worst economic crisis in decades with unemployment above 6% when I took office, we've had the lowest average unemployment rate of any administration in 50 years with unemployment at 4.1% as I leave," he said.

Incoming President-elect Donald Trump will inherit a strong economy, with forecasts tracking ongoing growth into 2025. However, uncertainty remains. Trump's proposed tariffs on foreign goods coupled with a sweeping deportation operation may have a significant impact on the economy, accelerating inflation and tamping down job growth, some experts forecast.

"I worry that immigration will be significantly lower than the long-term average of 1.0 million. I worry that tariffs will be universal and lead to a trade war. That would not be good for the economy and earnings," Hugh Johnson, chairman emeritus at Graypoint, told U.S. News.

What does all this mean for middle-class Americans? The unemployment rate is projected to remain stable, only creeping up to 4.3%, according to the Federal Reserve's latest Summary of Economic Projections. Experts suggest paying down mortgages, revisiting investment strategies, and paying attention to taxes before rates possibly shift as Inauguration Day draws close.

The big story: California wildfires still rage

Although Goldman predicts only a "modest drag" on U.S. jobs due to the devastating California wildfires, the situation is still ongoing. Small businesses destroyed by the fires will impact local jobs; in the wake of the fires, a surge in construction and the need for labor and materials might lead to localized shortages and rising costs, impacting several industries.

However, amid political and environmental uncertainty, it's unclear which way the winds will blow. Americans will have to simply wait for the smoke to clear.

To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Illinois.

#50. St. Clair County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 125,978 people (5,413 unemployed)

#49. McHenry County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 175,531 people (7,523 unemployed)

#48. Gallatin County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,018 people (88 unemployed)

#47. Union County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,094 people (312 unemployed)

#46. De Witt County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,578 people (332 unemployed)

#45. Stephenson County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,900 people (919 unemployed)

#44. Whiteside County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 27,367 people (1,215 unemployed)

#43. Kendall County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 75,174 people (3,302 unemployed)

#42. Lake County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 361,207 people (15,989 unemployed)

#41. Schuyler County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,164 people (143 unemployed)

#40. Tazewell County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 61,110 people (2,751 unemployed)

#39. Marshall County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,031 people (233 unemployed)

#38. Massac County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,378 people (248 unemployed)

#37. Wayne County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,800 people (312 unemployed)

#36. Saline County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,848 people (456 unemployed)

#35. Christian County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,377 people (614 unemployed)

#34. Jefferson County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,110 people (740 unemployed)

#33. Marion County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,559 people (760 unemployed)

#32. Ogle County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 23,690 people (1,084 unemployed)

#31. Kane County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 265,301 people (12,288 unemployed)

#30. Putnam County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,987 people (139 unemployed)

#29. Clark County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,153 people (336 unemployed)

#28. Montgomery County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,249 people (524 unemployed)

#27. McDonough County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,157 people (613 unemployed)

#26. Johnson County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,160 people (199 unemployed)

#25. Mason County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,969 people (284 unemployed)

#24. Mercer County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,463 people (366 unemployed)

#23. Fulton County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,475 people (707 unemployed)

#22. Knox County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,068 people (978 unemployed)

#21. Will County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 381,148 people (18,686 unemployed)

#20. Clay County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,724 people (287 unemployed)

#19. Logan County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 11,012 people (556 unemployed)

#18. LaSalle County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 50,901 people (2,555 unemployed)

#17. Perry County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,619 people (385 unemployed)

#16. Bureau County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,282 people (781 unemployed)

#15. Grundy County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 27,117 people (1,371 unemployed)

#14. Lawrence County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,918 people (255 unemployed)

#13. Franklin County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,823 people (822 unemployed)

#12. Boone County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 24,564 people (1,289 unemployed)

#11. Kankakee County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 51,560 people (2,695 unemployed)

#10. Winnebago County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 131,185 people (6,786 unemployed)

#9. Henry County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 23,444 people (1,231 unemployed)

#8. Cook County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2.8 million people (144,892 unemployed)

#7. Hardin County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,456 people (78 unemployed)

#6. Peoria County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 81,185 people (4,377 unemployed)

#5. Macon County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 44,429 people (2,480 unemployed)

#4. Rock Island County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 66,886 people (3,835 unemployed)

#3. Vermilion County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 31,575 people (1,872 unemployed)

#2. Alexander County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,836 people (111 unemployed)

#1. Pulaski County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,615 people (110 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Elena Cox, writing by Alizah Salario, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.