CHICAGO (AP) - Unemployment dropped in all of Illinois’ metro areas in September. It was the sixth straight month of across-the-board decreases.
The Department of Employment Security said Thursday that the numbers show progress in the state’s push to rebound from the lingering effects of the recession.
The data follow last week’s report showing Illinois’ jobless rate dropped to 6.6 percent in September.
The most significant drops across the state included a steep drop in the Decatur area. Decatur has been plagued by high unemployment that in September 2013 was 12.2 percent. But last month the local jobless rate was 7.9 percent.
The Chicago-area rate also fell sharply, from 8.5 percent to 6 percent.
Four areas lost jobs in September. They were Peoria, Bloomington-Normal, Davenport-Moline-Rock Island and the Illinois suburbs of St. Louis.
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