The Bloomington-Normal labor market saw both a decrease in the total number of jobs and the unemployment rate over the last year, according to data released Thursday.
Data shows the market lost 2,300 jobs from April 2024 to April 2025. McLean and DeWitt counties are included in the labor market.
The labor market lost jobs in manufacturing [-1,900], financial activities [-700], leisure and hospitality [-600], government [-100], professional and business services [-100] and other services sectors [-100]. Some of the job losses in manufacturing may be tied to Rivian dropping its third shift last year.
The market added jobs in private education and health services [+700], mining and construction [+200], information [+100], retail trade [+100], and wholesale trade [+100].
Bloomington-Normal unemployment in April was 2.8%, down 0.6 points from last year, indicating that there was a shrinkage in the eligible workforce in the Twin Cities.
That 2.8% is tied with Champaign-Urbana for the lowest among all Illinois metro areas. The St. Louis Metro Area of Illinois reported a record low unemployment [2.9%].
The highest rate was in the Chicago, Naperville, Schaumburg area at 5.1%.
Statewide unemployment was 4.5%.
