The latest available state-level employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is for August 2025 (seasonally adjusted nonfarm payrolls).  Over the past 12 months (August 2024 to August 2025), Illinois saw a 0.1% increase in employment, adding about 5,900 jobs for a total of approximately 6.15 million jobs. This ranks Illinois 45th out of 50 states for job growth percentage.  The national 12-month job growth rate was about 0.9% over the same period.

Overall Job Growth: From 2000 to 2025, total IL nonfarm employment grew by about 173,000 jobs (2.9%), with private sector contributing the majority of gains. Illinois has underperformed the national average due to population out-migration and fiscal issues, but recent years show improvement from infrastructure investments and business relocations.

Per Grok

Job Growth in the private sector in IL is barely measurable, out of step with the national economy.   All of the states in the upper midwest exceeded the IL job data.   Per BLS reports, the nation added 9 Million jobs during this time period. 

One example of the IL job market is recent hiring of public sector employees versus the private sector.   It’s the private sector workers who pay most of the taxes to pay for government job growth.   Growing government jobs while shrinking private sector jobs is not sustainable. It can only lead to more demands for more taxes, such as a proposal for a $2 billion statewide tax increase through expansion of the sales tax for services.