The good news is that Rockford did not make this list, the bad news is that we almost did. Last week the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced Illinois’ unemployment rate in May held steady at 6.0 percent. Unfortunately , our state’s unemployment rate is still higher than the national unemployment rate reported for May, which inched up from the prior month to 5.5 percent.

The good news is that the month of May marked the 15th consecutive month of falling unemployment rates for each metro area in Illinois, so we are at least headed in the right direction.

Some cities and towns are lagging behind that others when it comes to employment. Reboot Illinois published a report listing the most difficult towns to find employment in the state of Illinois.

Here is the ranking, followed by the unemployment rate

  • 1.  HARVEY 11.5
  • 2.  DOLTON 10.5
  • 3.  EAST ST. LOUIS 10.4
  • 4.  MAYWOOD 10.4
  • 5.  CALUMET CITY 9.5
  • 6.  SOUTH HOLLAND 9.4
  • 7.  CHICAGO HEIGHTS 9.1
  • 8.  PARK FOREST 8.8
  • 9.  KANKAKEE 8.0
  • 10. JOLIET 7.5
  • 12 ROCKFORD 7.1

Rockford's unemployment rate actually went up by .2 % between April and May.

Illinois cities with the lowest unemployment rates:

  • 1. HIGHLAND PARK 3.5
  • 2 VERNON HILLS 3.9
  • 3 ST. CHARLES 4.0
  • 4 GURNEE 4.1
  • 5 NORMAL 4.1

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