Illinois Unemployment Rate Drops To 9.8 Percent

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Unemployment in Illinois dropped to 9.8 percent in December. It was the second month in a row with a decrease

The Illinois Department of Employment Security said Friday that the unemployment rate fell despite the overall number of jobs in the state dropping by 4,100 in December. Statewide unemployment had fallen slightly in November to 10 percent after six straight months of increases.

Federal officials said earlier this week that national unemployment fell to a three-year low of 8.5 percent in December.

For all of 2001, Illinois unemployment rate averaged 9.4 percent. That was down almost a full percentage point from 2010.

Manufacturing employers added 2,200 jobs in December. That was more than any other type of employer. The biggest jobs losses were in construction, where firms cut 4,300 jobs.

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Comments

[World Citizen]

03:20 AM on 01/24/2012

national unemployment fell to a 3 year low? Funny how the numbers start to look good during campaign season. The reality is far from this 3 year low. My brother in california isn't buying this news. He has not found a job in more than 18 months. he tells me that there's plenty like him - looking for work...

[BluebirdofUnhappiness]

01:50 PM on 01/23/2012

Every time the unemployment rate drops, an angel gives a Republican a wedgie.

[scraper]

09:55 AM on 01/23/2012

Who in this country thinks the unemployment rates are dropping...Only the crooks in Washington that are running our country..the only reason they show the unemployment rate is dropping is because the ones that have exhausted the unemployment...are NOT being counted any more...so that would make the unemployment rate about 18%...the country needs to start a silver war against the crooks in government office..how can someone making 150.000 a year for 10 yrs be a multi millionaire..have two or three homes...and show a loss on there tax return...They are all crooks...Ron Paul has better ideas that make more sense that the elected officials...None of them are worth electing..Give Ron Paul a Chance...the unknown might have better than the ones we know are crooks...For instance Kwame Kilpatric...was reelected what a crook he was....and still is..

[nicothebaker]

12:31 PM on 01/22/2012

They lose so many people to murder every week, it's no surprise unemployment is lower.

[majesticjkr]

08:34 AM on 01/22/2012

They forgot to mention the death rise

[georgebiggs]

02:36 AM on 01/22/2012

Unemployment numbers are comprised of those that are in the job market for the past 30 days. It does not include those that have not been in the job market in the last 30 days: people who have given up looking; those that have gone off unemployment because it has run out. One solution to unemployment is High Speed Universities check it out

[ConservativeChampion]

09:47 PM on 01/21/2012

Liberal ILL-ANNOY is a joke. The state is sinking so fast that it makes the Titanic look structurally sound.

High taxes, huge deficits, massive regulations, no right to work laws, people are leaving, businesses are leaving, but LIBERALISM is expanding.....

ILL-ANNOY is losing not only to Indiana, Wisconsin, and Missouri but to Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

Things are bad in ILL-ANNOY and are getting worse. A couple of decent months doesn't reverse the poor trend.

[bk Chicago]

01:03 PM on 01/22/2012

Really? Did you have any data to backup your lie?

[DEmusicman]

02:48 PM on 01/21/2012

What are these jobs? $7,50, $8.00 an hour with zero benefits to replace hardwon and deserved living standards. The republican party and their masters - the Koch Bros, et.al. - want a sociaty where they hold all the power, they ahev all the moeny and we get maybe the crumbs from the table, if they feel so inclined. Sounds like real progress to me. NOT!

[susanbsbi]

01:15 PM on 01/21/2012

It really looks Like The President is getting jobs back for the people. It may not be fast enough, but a steady increase is better than none. Oh, none of these jobs were created by the up 1%, but the small manufacturing companies. Kudos to Illinois