Illinois unemployment fell in each of the state's metropolitan statistical areas for the sixth month in a row, and in each of the state's 102 counties for the fourth month in a row in September, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security and Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The data is not seasonally adjusted, which means the unemployment rate of the current month is compared to the same month of last year -- i.e. September 2014 to September 2013, which removes any seasonal or regular patterns that otherwise affect the unemployment rate. Additionally, people who have dropped out of the workforce are not reflected in these statistics.
The metro and local jobless figures, on top of the 0.1 percentage point drop in the statewide unemployment rate to 6.6 percent, is welcome news to Gov. Pat Quinn who has consistently said Illinois is making a comeback.
Illinois metropolitan statistical areas with the highest job gains from Septemeber 2013 to September 2014:
1 .Champaign-Urbana: +2.2 percent / 2,400
2 .Springfield: +1.9 percent / 2,100
3. Danville: +1.4 percent / 400
4. Kankakee-Bradley: +1.4 percent / 600
5. Chicago-Joliet-Naperville: +1.1 percent / +40,100
Check out the Illinois metropolitan areas with the biggest job losses in the last year at Reboot Illinois.
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