Overall unemployment rate moved up to 8.5% with the biggest shift in Transportation & Utilities, which lost 300 roles, based on the most recently available information published in April 2022.

Total employment in the Rockford, IL market declined by 652 jobs in March and the unemployment rate increased compared to the prior month by 60 bps to 8.5%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 39 bps over the same time to 3.8%.

  • Rockford, IL unemployment rate is 475 bps above the national rate which is a negative sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 20 bps above the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a negative.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in March versus prior month by 4.7% and are down compared to last year at this time in the market.
Month over Month Unemployment Change
Year over Year Unemployment Change
Rockford, IL Unemployment March 2022

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 0.2% . Key sectors include:

  • Transportation & Utilities: 30,800; -300
  • Manufacturing: 28,100; no change
  • Education & Healthcare: 24,000; +200
  • Government: 14,700; +100
  • Business Services: 12,900; +100
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 12,700; +100
  • Other Jobs: 7,900; no change
  • Construction, Mining: 5,200; +100
  • Financial Services: 4,600; no change
  • IT & Development: 1,400; no change
Rockford, IL Unemployment by Industry March 2022

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through March 2022 (Data published April 2022 and reports created on April 27, 2022).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.