The Illinois Department of Employment Security is reporting unemployment in all the state's metropolitan areas fell in September.
The agency reported Thursday the metro areas showing the largest declines in unemployment were Peoria, down 1.9 percent to 10.8 percent, with Decatur 1.2 percent lower at 10.9 percent, and Metro East 1.2 percent lower at 9.4 percent.
IDES Director Maureen O'Donnell says for the first time since March 2007, Illinois is recording falling unemployment rates in every corner of the state.
The Rockford metro area continued to have the highest unemployment rate at 14.8 percent, down from 15.5 percent in September 2009. Unemployment in Illinois' largest metropolitan area, Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, was 9.4 percent, down from 10.4 percent in September 2009.
Overall, Illinois unemployment stands at 9.4 percent, while nationally it is 9.2.
Metropolitan area | Sept. 2010 | Sept. 2009 |
Bloomington-Normal | 7.2 percent | 7.5 percent |
Champaign-Urbana | 8.3 percent | 8.7 percent |
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville | 9.4 percent | 10.4 percent |
Danville | 10.8 percent | 11.9 percent |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | 7.8 percent | 8.4 percent |
Decatur | 10.9 percent | 12.1 percent |
Kankakee-Bradley | 12 percent | 12.3 percent |
Lake-Kenosha, Ill.-Wis. | 9.4 percent | 10 percent |
Peoria | 9.4 percent | 11.3 percent |
Rockford | 14.8 percent | 15.5 percent |
Springfield | 7.5 percent | 7.9 percent |
St. Louis (Ill. section) | 9.4 percent | 10.6 percent |