Jobless rates fall in most Illinois metro areas

The Illinois Department of Employment Security says unemployment dropped in January in 11 of Illinois' 12 metro areas, but most areas lost jobs.

The department said Thursday the jobless rate increased only in the Danville area. Unemployment rose to 12.5 percent in Danville from 11.9 percent a year earlier.

Rates fell in the state's highest unemployment areas. Decatur unemployment fell from 13.9 percent to 12.9. In Rockford the rate fell slightly from 13 percent to 12.9.

But the department says only five areas added jobs and only the Lake-Kenosha and Champaign-Urbana areas added large numbers.

The department blamed global manufacturing struggles for decreases in jobs in seven metro areas.

Unemployment in the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville area dropped from 10 percent to 8.6 percent.

The statewide unemployment rate in January was 8.7 percent.