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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

2022 · 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 96,262
3 Naperville 79,972
4 Joliet 79,767
5 Rockford 66,149
6 Elgin 58,993
7 Springfield 54,223
8 Peoria 51,280
9 Champaign 46,502
10 Waukegan 45,951
11 Bloomington 42,458
12 Bolingbrook 41,945
13 Schaumburg 41,563
14 Cicero 41,064
15 Arlington Heights 40,303
16 Evanston 39,171
17 Palatine 37,813
18 Skokie 32,471
19 Des Plaines 31,780
20 Berwyn 30,065
21 Decatur 29,942
22 Orland Park 29,143
23 Tinley Park 29,127
24 Oak Park 28,974
25 Normal 28,469
…

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2022

What it means

Residents who work or are looking for work.

How it is calculated

Employed plus unemployed residents, annual average.