Illinois and Tennessee unemployment rates drop

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Web Editor - Ryan Burkett

Story Created: Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:21 AM

Story Updated: Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:28 AM

Official unemployment rates declined for the month of September in Illinois and Tennessee.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the unemployment rate dipped again in September, from 9.1 percent to 8.8 percent.

The department adds that seasonally adjusted figures show the state's unemployment rate has fallen 10 times in the past 13 months.

The report shows Illinois added nearly 14,000 jobs last month, which were driven by the areas of professional and business services, as well as the leisure and hospitality sectors.

Meanwhile, Tennessee's Labor and Workforce Development Commission says the unemployment rate was 8.3 percent. That's down from 8.5 percent in August.

Total non-farm employment rose by more than 3,000 jobs with increases in government, education and health services

However, there were declines in trade, transportation and food services.

Both states' figures are still higher than the official national unemployment rate for September, which was 7.8 percent.