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- calendar_today November 2, 2026
Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provide a comprehensive view of employment and wage trends across Illinois counties as of the first quarter of 2026. The latest official release highlights both year-over-year changes in employment and average weekly wages, with detailed breakdowns for the state’s largest and smallest counties.
Statewide employment in Illinois was essentially unchanged over the year ending March 2026, recording 5,992,400 jobs in March and ranking Illinois at 0.0% in over-the-year employment change. Among Illinois's 13 largest counties, employment change was mixed: six counties saw declines, two were unchanged, and five saw increases. The most significant drop was in Winnebago County (-1.7%), while Will County reported the strongest employment growth among the largest counties at 1.1% over the year. Cook County, by far the largest in employment, recorded no change at 2,569,900 jobs, accounting for about 43% of the state's covered employment. The 13 largest counties together made up over 80% of Illinois's total covered employment. [BLS Illinois County Employment and Wages – March 2026]
Average weekly wage trends varied more widely across counties. For the first quarter of 2026, the statewide average weekly wage grew by 4.1% to $1,731, putting Illinois ninth in the nation for wage levels and 16th for wage growth during the period. Among the largest counties, Peoria led wage increases with a 6.9% gain. Most large counties, however, saw wage gains below the national average of 3.9%. The highest average weekly wages among the largest counties were reported in Lake County ($2,226), Cook ($2,015), DuPage ($1,732), and Peoria ($1,805). In contrast, McHenry County had one of the lowest among the largest, at $1,104. [BLS Illinois County Employment and Wages – March 2026]
Smaller counties, defined as those with employment below 75,000, all trailed the national average for weekly wages. Among these, Macon County reported the highest average weekly wage at $1,559, with Calhoun recording the lowest at $729. Fourteen counties had average weekly wages below $900, while 21 counties reached $1,200 or more. [BLS Illinois County Employment and Wages – March 2026]
This data underscores the variation in both employment and wage growth across different regions in Illinois, with large urban and suburban counties tending to offer higher wages and more stable employment levels. The official statistics offer a benchmark for comparing local trends to both state and national developments.
