Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) says unemployment in most metro areas of the state was either down or unchanged in the month of August.

That wasn’t the case in the Springfield area, where the jobless average ticked up slightly, compared to the same period a year ago.

According to federal data supplied by IDES, the August unemployment rate in the Springfield metropolitan area was at 4.4 percent in August, 2025.  That’s an increase of 0.1 percentage points from August, 2024.  The area, however, saw an increase of total nonfarm payroll jobs during the year-over-year period of 1,500, totaling 113,200.  The Kankakee and Peoria areas in the state saw similar increases.

The state is placing some blame on the Trump administration, which did not take office until January, 2025.

“Even as harmful federal policies create challenges for businesses and workers, Illinois is staying focused on expanding economic opportunity in every corner of the state by investing in workforce and business development,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar, in a news release. “Our greatest asset is our diverse and resilient workforce, and we’re committed to building pathways that support lasting growth and prosperity.”

The Sangamon County unemployment rate in August, 2025 was 4.5%, an increase of 0.1 percentage points, while the Menard County unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.9%.  The City of Springfield unemployment rate was at 5.1%, an increase of 0.2 points.

In the Springfield metro area, job sectors seeing growth were Information, Government, Private Education-Health Services, Retail Trade, and Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities.  Payrolls decreased in the Professional-Business Services and Mining-Construction sectors.  Sectors remaining unchanged included Leisure-Hospitality, Manufacturing, Other Services, Wholesale Trade, and Financial Activities, according to IDES.

The State of Illinois unemployment rate was 4.7% in August, 2025 — a decline of 0.6 percentage points.