Unemployment Dips, Slightly

By aaroncynic in News on Sep 24, 2010 6:00PM

Statewide unemployment is back into the single digits for the first August in two years, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The unemployment rate trickled downward in 9 out of 12 major metropolitan areas in the state, bringing the statewide total to 9.9 percent. The Rockford area has the highest rate, at 14.5 percent while Bloomington-Normal and Springfield have the lowest at 7.9 percent. Chicago’s unemployment rate dropped slightly to 9.7 percent from 10.1 percent.

IDES Director Maureen O’Donnell said “We know the Illinois economy is pushing forward. More people each month are feeling that steady momentum.” But while a small drop in unemployment numbers across much of the state is a good sign, we’re nowhere near out of the woods. Even though we might be in the single digits now, unemployment in Illinois is still the highest it’s been in more than a decade and the national rate is no better (9.6 percent). While some politicians are certain the US economy is going to “take off,” if the unemployment rate could be as high as 7.5 percent two years from now, we have to wonder exactly where it’s going.