Big Drop in Unemployment Rate in State in October

The Illinois Department of Employment Security Thursday announced the state's unemployment rate for October fell 3.6%, to 6.8%.

The state's unemployment rate is now lower than the national jobless rate, which was at 6.9% in October.

In October, the three industry sectors with the largest over-the-month gains in employment were Professional and Business Services, up 13,800; Construction, up 4,200; and Trade, Transportation and Utilities, up 2,100 jobs.

The industry sectors that reported the largest payroll declines were Government, down 13,500; Educational and Health Services, down 6,500; and Information, down 1,500.