Unemployment Down In Chicago Area
ChICAGO (CBS) -- Officials are reporting good news about the unemployment rate in the Chicago area.
In December 2010, the unemployment rate fell to 8.6 percent, down from 8.9 percent in November, and 10.6 percent in December 2009.
The Chicago-Joliet-Naperville metropolitan area also includes the collar counties.
In the state as a whole, the department reported Thursday that there were 46,300 more jobs in Illinois last month than there were in December 2009. It was the fourth consecutive monthly year-over-year increase.
According to the state Department of Employment Security, the Illinois metropolitan areas recording the largest declines in unemployment were Rockford, down 3.3 points to 13 percent; Peoria, down 2.5 points to 8.8 percent, and Decatur, down 2.2 points to 10.4 percent.
Overall Illinois unemployment in December was 8.8 percent.
Employment Security director Maureen O'Donnell says despite the weak economy, the long-term trend has Illinois gaining jobs.
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