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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 22, 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

2024 · 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 1.5M
2 Aurora 98,405
3 Naperville 83,377
4 Joliet 82,096
5 Rockford 65,920
6 Elgin 60,152
7 Springfield 55,008
8 Peoria 52,731
9 Champaign 47,601
10 Waukegan 46,070
11 Bloomington 44,577
12 Bolingbrook 43,378
13 Schaumburg 42,872
14 Cicero 41,812
15 Arlington Heights 41,364
16 Evanston 40,225
17 Palatine 38,848
18 Skokie 33,327
19 Des Plaines 32,481
20 Berwyn 30,668
21 Tinley Park 29,953
22 Orland Park 29,944
23 Normal 29,917
24 Oak Park 29,748
25 Decatur 29,563
…

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2024

What it means

Residents who work or are looking for work.

How it is calculated

Employed plus unemployed residents, annual average.