finance
Protective Service Roles Show Gains as Chicago Employment Score Hits Low
Active job postings in military and protective service occupations rose sharply even as overall hiring slipped and the local employment score reached its lowest point since 2009.
How we reported this
Chicago-area unemployment stood at 4.9 percent in May 2026, up 0.6 percentage points from the same month in 2025, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Employment in the metro area fell 0.4 percent to 4.738 million between November and December 2025, with losses recorded in every county.
Job postings climb in select fields
Active job postings across Chicagoland increased 7 percent from January to February 2026, reaching 205,272. Military and protective service occupations posted the largest gains, rising 56 percent and 19 percent respectively during that stretch. These figures come from Illinois Department of Employment Security labor-market reports.
The rise in postings for protective roles stands out against broader measures of weakness. Hiring in Chicago dropped 3 percent from March to April 2026 and was 7.3 percent below the level recorded in April 2025. Chicago Fed labor-market indicators and Illinois Policy Institute summaries both documented the continued slide.
Lowest employment score since 2009
Chicago’s employment score fell to 43.5 in December 2025, the lowest reading since May 2009. The score reflected 25 straight months of business contraction, with no survey respondents reporting employment gains. The Chicago Fed series tracked the decline across the metro region.
Local firms that staff protective and security positions have posted more openings even while overall payrolls contracted. The pattern appears in the same state labor-market releases that show the metro area losing jobs across counties.
Businesses tracking these postings can review the Illinois Department of Employment Security data releases and the Chicago Fed labor-market indicators for updates on which occupations continue to list openings. The next scheduled releases follow the regular monthly calendars posted on those agency sites.
This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.