Rockford One Of Hardest Hit Cities By Unemployment During COVID-19

Earlier this year, unemployment across the United States was at 3.5%.

That number was from February, while in April it rose 11.2% all the way up to 14.7%.

The rise in unemployment coincides with the rise of the coronavirus in America.

While Rockford unemployment numbers in February were higher than the national average, 4.8%, the number from April is staggering.

A survey from SmartAsset revealed, Rockford has the 16th highest unemployment rate in the United States.

The April 2020 unemployment rate in Rockford sits at 22.4%, a 17.6% rise in only two months. That means, nearly 1 in every 4 people in Rockford is currently unemployed.

While the situation is dire currently, the reopening of Illinois economically should reduce the number. The more days and weeks that pass, the more likely those unemployed will go back to work or find new jobs altogether.

The highest rate of unemployment in the United States is in Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, Hawaii where the number jumped from 2.7% in February to a whopping 35% in April.

Sweet Lenny is the brand manager of 97ZOK, Q98.5, and Operations Manager for Townsquare Media Rockford. Catch him afternoons 3 to 7 on 97ZOK. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and like his page on Facebook.