Unemployment rate hits new high in 25 yrs in Illinois, U.S. in October

CHICAGO, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The unemployment rate in the U.S. state of Illinois rose from 10.5 to 11 percent in October, the highest level in the state in more than a quarter of a century, according to a report released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) Thursday.

IDES reported that the figure, which was calculated after seasonal adjustment, hit a new high since August 1983. While the ratio in October 2008 was only 6.8 percent.

According to the report, the number of jobs fell by 3,200, making October the 21st straight month in which the number was dropping.

Meanwhile, the number of non-farm jobs in Illinois in October was just over 5.63 million, the lowest since September 1995, the report said.

October's unemployment rate in the United States as a whole increased 0.4 percent to 10.2 percent, the highest level since April 1993.