These Are The 10 Laziest Places In Illinois

Discover the 10 Least Productive Places in Illinois

In every workplace, there’s often the concern of having colleagues who may not pull their weight. If you find yourself residing in one of these towns in Illinois, you might be reflecting on that sentiment.

This isn’t meant to be a judgment; rather, the work ethic of a community can sometimes influence the workplace environment. No one enjoys collaborating with those who are not committed to their jobs.

To uncover the towns in Illinois where productivity might be lacking, we analyzed recent data from the American Community Survey. This involved assessing various criteria that could indicate lower levels of workforce engagement.

After thorough analysis, we present to you the “Least Productive Places in Illinois”:

Continue reading to find out where the least productive residents are located, or skip to the end to see how your town ranks.

Interestingly, Plainfield has emerged as the most industrious place in Illinois.

How We Identified the Least Productive Places in Illinois

At Zippia, we rely on data to tackle challenging questions. We pride ourselves on being data-driven analysts, dedicated to uncovering the truth behind various trends.

For this analysis, we utilized the latest American Community Survey data. We specifically focused on indicators that might reflect lower productivity levels across various communities in Illinois.

After examining numerous criteria, we selected the following factors to determine the least productive towns in Illinois:

Lowest average hours worked
Shortest commute times
Fewest workers per household (calculated as the labor force divided by the number of households)
Highest unemployment rates
Lowest percentage of adults holding a college degree

The rationale behind this selection is straightforward: limited educational attainment, minimal work hours, and a low number of working individuals per household typically suggest lower productivity in a town.

We analyzed data from over 340 towns in Illinois, ranking each based on the aforementioned criteria, with 1 being the “least productive.”

The town with the lowest overall score was crowned the “Least Productive Place in Illinois,” and Centreville topped the list.

Refer to the detailed chart below for insights into each town’s ranking.

1. Centreville

Population: 5,208 College Educated: 7.9%
Unemployment Rate: 24.4%

2. Rock Falls

Population: 9,111 College Educated: 10.0%
Unemployment Rate: 16.6%

3. Harrisburg

Population: 8,989 College Educated: 13.8%
Unemployment Rate: 15.9%

4. West Frankfort

Population: 8,247 College Educated: 8.4%
Unemployment Rate: 13.9%

5. East St. Louis

Population: 26,697 College Educated: 8.0%
Unemployment Rate: 16.4%

6. Danville

Population: 32,483 College Educated: 15.3%
Unemployment Rate: 14.3%

7. Watseka

Population: 5,463 College Educated: 12.4%
Unemployment Rate: 14.0%

8. Centralia

Population: 12,880 College Educated: 15.3%
Unemployment Rate: 17.5%

9. Streator

Population: 13,152 College Educated: 11.6%
Unemployment Rate: 15.9%

10. Metropolis

Population: 6,466 College Educated: 14.8%
Unemployment Rate: 11.2%

Conclusion: Understanding Productivity in Illinois

Identifying the least productive places in Illinois can be subjective. However, this list is based on tangible data regarding work engagement, education levels, and economic participation. It serves as a reflection of communities where individuals may be less inclined to invest in their careers.

Detailed List of the Least Productive Places in Illinois

City	Rank	Population	College Educated	Unemployment Rate
Centreville	1	5,208	7.9%	24.4%
Rock Falls	2	9,111	10.0%	16.6%
Harrisburg	3	8,989	13.8%	15.9%
West Frankfort	4	8,247	8.4%	13.9%
East St. Louis	5	26,697	8.0%	16.4%
Danville	6	32,483	15.3%	14.3%
Watseka	7	5,463	12.4%	14.0%
Centralia	8	12,880	15.3%	17.5%
Streator	9	13,152	11.6%	15.9%
Metropolis	10	6,466	14.8%	11.2%

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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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