Illinois
Data through June 2026Published August 2026Digest g0.1 · Provisional
Compiled from BLS, Census, Indeed Hiring Lab. Government statistics publish on a lag, so the latest month shown trails the calendar; every figure carries its own “data through” date.
This is the most recent edition. Newer government data for this state has not been published yet.
This month
Hiring and the pipeline are moving in opposite directions: employment rose 4.5% while permits fell 33.7%. Permits lead construction hiring by roughly a year, so this is the kind of gap that shows up in payrolls later. BLS · Census Construction employment in Illinois reached 250,500 jobs in June 2026, up 4.5% from a year earlier. BLS Residential building permits fell 33.7% year over year, to 1,267 units authorized in June 2026. Census
01 · Indicators
- Construction employment
- 250,500
- +4.5% YoY
- BLS · Jun 2026
- Building permits
- 1,267
- −33.7% YoY
- Census · Jun 2026
- Unemployment
- 5.1%
- +18.6% YoY
- BLS · Jun 2026
- Job postings index
- 85.7
- −6.0% YoY
- Indeed Hiring Lab · Jun 2026
02 · Tightest trades in Illinois
Explore every trade and state →| # | Trade | Index | Vs. 50 states | Wage, COL-adj. | 10-yr growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solar | 57.5 | Surplus | $59k | +96% |
| 2 | Electrical | 50.8 | Surplus | $99k | +7% |
| 3 | Flooring | 47.5 | Surplus | $69k | +7% |
| 4 | HVAC | 43.7 | Surplus | $77k | +6% |
| 5 | Garage Doors | 43.1 | Surplus | $64k | +12% |
| 6 | Windows & Doors | 42.5 | Surplus | $61k | — |
| 7 | Plumbing | 41.7 | Surplus | $99k | +3% |
| 8 | General Contracting | 40.2 | Surplus | $108k | +4% |
| 9 | Concrete & Masonry | 36.3 | Surplus | $77k | -3% |
| 10 | Pool & Spa | 32.0 | Surplus | $56k | +4% |
| 11 | Roofing | 29.6 | Surplus | $77k | +2% |
| 12 | Painting | 27.9 | Surplus | $61k | +0% |
| 13 | Fire Protection | 26.9 | Surplus | $61k | +0% |
| 14 | Appliance Repair | 25.4 | Surplus | $56k | -6% |
| 15 | Insulation | 20.8 | Surplus | $52k | +2% |
| 16 | Locksmith | 18.5 | Surplus | $58k | -12% |
| 17 | Landscaping | 17.9 | Surplus | $43k | +3% |
| 18 | Fencing | 16.2 | Surplus | $50k | — |
| 19 | Pest Control | 14.2 | Surplus | $46k | +3% |
| 20 | Cleaning & Restoration | 13.6 | Surplus | $37k | +2% |
Index 0–100, methodology v0.2 · Band is this state’s percentile among the 50 states for that trade · Wages adjusted by BEA regional price parity
03 · Desks
Federal construction awards and permit activity.
Coming in a later edition