CHICAGO (AP) - The state Department of Employment Security says unemployment rates increased in almost all of Illinois’ dozen metro areas in December.
The department reported Friday that unemployment fell only in the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville and Davenport-Moline-Rock Island areas. The Chicago rate dropped from 8.6 percent to in December 2012 to 8.2 percent last month. In the Rock Island area the jobless rate dropped to 6.8 percent.
The department blamed the ongoing slowdown in manufacturing for many job losses.
Unemployment increased the most in Danville where the rate rose from 10 percent to 12.2 percent and in Peoria where the jobless rate jumped 1 percent to 9.2 percent. Both cities rely on manufacturing.
The department said earlier this month that statewide unemployment fell to 8.6 percent.
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