Chicago metro unemployment rate reaches 11.3 percent

The Chicago metro area's jobless rate reached 11.3 percent in June, according to data released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

Unemployment rates in all 12 Illinois metro areas were above previous-year levels in June, the agency said.

Metro areas that reported the largest unemployment rate increases were: Rockford up 5.3 points to 14.0 percent, Chicago-Naperville-Joliet up 4.4 points to 11.3 percent and Peoria up 3.8 points to 9.6 percent.

"Job loss continues throughout the state as the national recession continues to pressure local economies," IDES Director Maureen O'Donnell said in a statement. "Jobs will continue to be lost until the economy rebounds. The economy must turn around before job losses stop and job creation begins."

Eleven of the 12 metro areas recorded their highest unemployment rate for June since the 1980s.

Over the year, the total number of payroll jobs decreased in 11 of the 12 metropolitan areas. The largest percentage decreases in jobs were reported in Chicago-Naperville-Joliet (down 4.7 percent or -184,300), Lake-Kenosha (down 4.3 percent, -17,800) and Decatur (down 3.9 percent, -2,200). Seven metropolitan areas reported job growth in Educational and Health Services over the year.

However, all 12 metro areas reported job decreases in four of the major industry groups: manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, information, and financial activities.