Illinois unemployment still 3rd highest in U.S. – Illinois Policy

While the state added 56,000 jobs during 2024, the growth rate trails behind the national average and most of the states surrounding Illinois. The Illinois growth rate was 0.92 percent while the national growth was 1.42 percent, or 2.2 million jobs. Illinois saw the highest growth rates in state government jobs, adding 15,600 jobs, an increase of 11.25 percent.