Chicago area unemployment rate rises to 9.3 percent
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS January 27, 2012 9:24AM
Updated: January 27, 2012 11:20AM
The unemployment rate in the Chicago metropolitan area rose to 9.3 percent in December from 8.6 percent a year earlier. But it fell from 9.8 percent in November, the Illinois Department of Employment Security said Thursday.
The Chicago area lost 100 jobs year-over-year.
The unemployment rate dropped in five of Illinois’ 12 metropolitan areas and increased in five others when compared to a year earlier.
Following Chicago, the biggest increase was in the Illinois section of the St. Louis area, where unemployment rose from 9 to 9.7 percent.
The biggest decrease was in the Peoria area. Unemployment there dropped from 8.7 to 8.1 percent.
Seven of the 12 metropolitan areas added jobs in December. Manufacturing was a key driver, increasing in nine areas.
The Kankakee-Bradley area added the most jobs overall since December 2010, with 3,400. That was followed by the Springfield area, which added 700; and the Peoria area, which added 500.
The biggest loss of jobs occurred in the Bloomington-Normal area, which shed 1,600 jobs.
The department said last week that the state’s overall unemployment rate was 9.8 percent in December.
Contributing: Francine Knowles
