These Are The 10 Best Places Places In Illinois To Get A Job

The 10 Best Places in Illinois to Find a Job in 2026

If you’re looking for job opportunities in Illinois, you’re in the right spot. The job market has evolved significantly, and knowing where to focus your search can make all the difference.

While Chicago often comes to mind as the prime location for employment due to its size, recent data reveals that Springfield, the state capital, is actually the top city in Illinois for job seekers.

At Zippia, we analyze comprehensive data to provide insights like these. Our goal is to identify the best cities in Illinois for job hunting.

After evaluating over 27 cities in Illinois, we’ve compiled a list highlighting the best places for job seekers in the Prairie State for 2026:

Joliet, take note! Let’s dive into how we ranked these cities and what you can learn from them.

How We Determined the Best Job Markets in the Prairie State

We conducted thorough research on all cities in Illinois, ensuring to compare them fairly by setting a minimum population threshold of 5,000 residents.

This process left us with 27 cities to analyze.

We ranked each city based on several criteria, with the lowest score indicating the best job market.

Key criteria evaluated included:

Unemployment rate
Recent job growth
Future job growth
Median household income

Our data sources include the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Sperling’s Best Places.

If your city isn’t listed in the top 10, scroll to the end for a detailed table and a downloadable file containing all the data.

Now, let’s explore how these cities earned their rankings.

1. Springfield

Population: 115,982 Unemployment Rate: 5.90%
Recent Job Growth: 4.34%
Future Job Growth: 42.80%

2. Champaign

Population: 81,083 Unemployment Rate: 5.60%
Recent Job Growth: 3.49%
Future Job Growth: 41.40%

3. Glenview

Population: 44,478 Unemployment Rate: 4.60%
Recent Job Growth: 0.85%
Future Job Growth: 37.10%

4. Belleville

Population: 44,118 Unemployment Rate: 6.90%
Recent Job Growth: 4.06%
Future Job Growth: 41.20%

5. Elmhurst

Population: 44,385 Unemployment Rate: 5.30%
Recent Job Growth: 0.85%
Future Job Growth: 36.40%

6. Moline

Population: 43,390 Unemployment Rate: 6.00%
Recent Job Growth: 2.49%
Future Job Growth: 39.00%

7. Waukegan

Population: 88,982 Unemployment Rate: 9.60%
Recent Job Growth: 5.10%
Future Job Growth: 40.60%

8. Evanston

Population: 74,619 Unemployment Rate: 5.50%
Recent Job Growth: 0.85%
Future Job Growth: 36.20%

9. Wheaton

Population: 53,155 Unemployment Rate: 5.40%
Recent Job Growth: 0.84%
Future Job Growth: 36.30%

10. Naperville

Source: Wikipedia

Population: 142,143 Unemployment Rate: 5.70%
Recent Job Growth: 0.85%
Future Job Growth: 36.00%

Complete Overview of the Best Job Markets in Illinois

City	Rank	Population	Unemployment Rate	Recent Job Growth	Future Job Growth
Springfield	1	115,982	5.90%	4.34%	42.80%
Champaign	2	81,083	5.60%	3.49%	41.40%
Glenview	3	44,478	4.60%	0.85%	37.10%
Belleville	4	44,118	6.90%	4.06%	41.20%
Elmhurst	5	44,385	5.30%	0.85%	36.40%
Moline	6	43,390	6.00%	2.49%	39.00%
Waukegan	7	88,982	9.60%	5.10%	40.60%
Evanston	8	74,619	5.50%	0.85%	36.20%
Wheaton	9	53,155	5.40%	0.84%	36.30%
Naperville	10	142,143	5.70%	0.85%	36.00%
Palatine	11	68,338	5.80%	0.85%	35.90%
Schaumburg	12	74,276	5.50%	0.84%	36.20%
Lombard	13	43,180	6.20%	0.85%	35.50%
Rockford	14	152,948	10.20%	2.94%	35.70%
Skokie	15	64,588	6.20%	0.85%	35.50%
Peoria	16	114,754	7.80%	1.27%	34.70%
DeKalb	17	44,340	6.70%	0.85%	35.00%
Bolingbrook	18	73,383	7.20%	0.85%	34.50%
Normal	19	52,986	5.50%	-0.22%	34.10%
Aurora	20	196,569	7.30%	0.85%	34.40%
Bloomington	21	76,527	5.60%	-0.22%	34.00%
Decatur	22	76,091	10.20%	1.43%	32.70%
Berwyn	23	56,376	7.70%	0.84%	34.00%
Chicago	24	2,702,471	8.40%	0.85%	33.30%
Elgin	25	109,513	8.90%	0.85%	32.80%
Cicero	26	83,756	9.40%	0.85%	32.30%
Joliet	27	147,098	10.30%	0.85%	31.40%

In conclusion, whether you are newly entering the job market or looking to transition to a new role, understanding the best places for employment in Illinois can empower your job search. Each city on our list offers unique opportunities, reflecting the evolving landscape of work in 2026. For individuals seeking growth, consider these top locations as you plan your next career move!

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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