The Illinois Department of Employment Security says unemployment rates compared to a year ago dropped in most of the state's metro areas in October. The only increase was in the Peoria area, home to Caterpillar Inc. -- which is in the midst of layoffs. The Carbondale-Marion area's rate stayed the same as last year.
But the department noted Wednesday that seven metro areas reported losses in total jobs last month. That includes the Rockford area, where the unemployment rate fell two-tenths of a percent compared to October 2014, from 7 % to 6.8 %, but which reported 600 fewer jobs than the same time last year. Stephenson County saw a three-tenths of a percent drop in the rate, even as total nonfarm employment fell by 225 jobs.
Illinois' overall rate was 5.3%.
The department's numbers are preliminary and not seasonally adjusted.
