The job market in parts of the Fox Valley lost a little of its spring shine in June, as Kane, DeKalb and Kendall counties each posted 4.4 percent unemployment and the City of Aurora ticked up to 4.9 percent. Those month‑over‑year increases, running from two to four tenths of a percentage point, mark a modest step back after earlier improvements.
State officials said the statewide unemployment rate held at 5.1 percent in June, even as total nonfarm payrolls logged a fourth straight month of gains, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The agency reported about 329,700 Illinois residents were unemployed in June, a year‑over‑year increase that lines up with the bump seen in several local communities.
Local LAUS tables show how that played out on the ground. As reported by WSPY, Kane County's 4.4 percent unemployment rate was up 0.3 percentage points from June 2025, DeKalb rose 0.2 and Kendall climbed 0.4. Aurora's 4.9 percent rate came in higher than its neighboring counties, but still below the statewide average.
What the state data show
In its monthly breakdown, IDES detailed where jobs were added and where they slipped. Leisure and hospitality added roughly 3,000 positions, while professional and business services picked up about 2,300. The biggest monthly decline landed in trade, transportation and utilities, which shed about 4,100 jobs, IDES reported.
Those sector shifts, layered on top of regional labor‑force changes, help explain how local unemployment rates could edge higher even as total payrolls grew. For now, it looks less like a jobs cliff and more like a reshuffle.
How this compares nationally
Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics put the U.S. unemployment rate at 4.2 percent in June, little changed from May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The gap between the national figure and Illinois numbers is a reminder that state and local labor markets can move on their own timelines, even when the broader picture stays relatively steady.
BLS data still point to a generally tight labor market, with pockets of higher joblessness shifting across regions rather than a uniform slowdown.
Where to look for work locally
For Fox Valley residents hunting for a new gig, local resources remain busy. Area workNet centers, training programs and online job boards continue to offer leads and skills support. Kane County's Yorkville workNet Center lists help with resumes, computer access and employer recruiting events, according to Kane County Government.
Whether June's bump turns out to be a seasonal blip or the front edge of a longer trend is still an open question. With payrolls climbing and unemployment nudging up in some spots, the next few LAUS releases will be worth a close look, especially for anyone watching local hiring or planning their next career move.
