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Economy & jobs Statistics · City

Labour force in Chicago

1990 – 2025 · 36 data points 1 of 101 · Towns of Illinois Updated Oct 21, 2026
Economy & jobs · Chicago Cook County Illinois

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 1990 – 2025

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Overview 8 figures People 21 figures Economy 20 figures Housing 8 figures Education 10 figures Tourism 3 figures Climate 8 figures
Latest value · 2025 1,496,072 −0.0% since 2024
Towns of Illinois · 2025 1 of 101 Place 1 is the highest value.
since 2015 +8.5% +0.4% a year on average
share of Cook County 53.7% Cook County: 2,784,839 · 2025
Labour force, 1990 – 2025 people
+8.5% since 2015

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 1990 – 2025

Compared with Labour force · people
Chicago 1.5M
Cook County 2.8M
Illinois 6.6M

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics

The series at a glance Chicago · 1990 – 2025
Latest value 1,496,072 · 2025
First value 1,323,477 · 1990
Highest 1,496,105 · 2024
Lowest 1,278,280 · 2005
Average change +0.4% a year on average
Data points 36

By year

All years · 1990 – 2025

YearChicagoChange Cook CountyIllinois
2025 1,496,072 −0.0% 2.8M 6.6M
2024 1,496,105 +2.7% 2.8M 6.6M
2023 1,456,449 +0.7% 2.7M 6.5M
2022 1,446,158 +2.2% 2.7M 6.5M
2021 1,414,888 +0.6% 2.6M 6.4M
2020 1,406,954 −1.7% 2.6M 6.3M
2019 1,431,355 +0.3% 2.7M 6.5M
2018 1,427,603 −0.5% 2.7M 6.6M
2017 1,435,299 −0.8% 2.7M 6.6M
2016 1,446,276 +4.9% 2.7M 6.6M
2015 1,378,433 +0.0% 2.7M 6.6M
2014 1,378,290 −0.6% 2.7M 6.6M
2013 1,387,206 +0.9% 2.7M 6.6M
2012 1,374,701 +1.7% 2.7M 6.6M
2011 1,351,368 +0.0% 2.6M 6.6M
2010 1,350,990 +3.4% 2.6M 6.6M
2009 1,306,264 −0.5% 2.6M 6.6M
2008 1,312,259 +0.6% 2.6M 6.6M
2007 1,304,775 +1.9% 2.6M 6.6M
2006 1,280,941 +0.2% 2.5M 6.5M
2005 1,278,280 −1.3% 2.5M 6.4M
2004 1,294,577 −0.9% 2.6M 6.3M
2003 1,306,393 −2.0% 2.6M 6.3M
2002 1,332,874 −3.2% 2.6M 6.3M
2001 1,376,309 −1.1% 2.7M 6.4M
2000 1,390,947 +2.2% 2.7M 6.5M
1999 1,361,425 +1.8% 2.7M 6.5M
1998 1,336,888 −0.8% 2.7M 6.3M
1997 1,347,527 +1.9% 2.7M 6.3M
1996 1,322,884 +0.1% 2.7M 6.2M
1995 1,321,507 +1.1% 2.7M 6.2M
1994 1,307,058 −0.6% 2.7M 6.1M
1993 1,314,737 −0.2% 2.6M 6.1M
1992 1,316,827 +0.8% 2.6M 6M
1991 1,305,746 −1.3% 2.6M 5.9M
1990 1,323,477 2.6M 5.9M

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 1990 – 2025

Ranking · Towns of Illinois

2016 · Place 1 is the highest value.

Year: 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
Highest first Lowest first A–Z
#TerritoryLabour force
1 Chicago 1.4M
2 Aurora 99,981
3 Joliet 78,893
4 Naperville 76,751
5 Rockford 71,132
6 Elgin 61,415
7 Springfield 57,291
8 Peoria 55,201
9 Waukegan 48,149
10 Champaign 44,073
11 Bloomington 43,352
12 Schaumburg 42,588
13 Cicero 42,543
14 Arlington Heights 40,946
15 Bolingbrook 40,945
16 Evanston 40,109
17 Palatine 38,846
18 Skokie 33,267
19 Decatur 33,225
20 Des Plaines 31,636
21 Berwyn 31,090
22 Tinley Park 29,676
23 Orland Park 29,327
24 Hoffman Estates 28,994
25 Oak Lawn 28,983
…

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2016

What it means

Residents who work or are looking for work.

How it is calculated

Employed plus unemployed residents, annual average.