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Economy

Lowest October Unemployment in 11 Years

WVIK News

Another month, another drop in unemployment in the Quad Cities. Figures from the Illinois Department of Employment Security show the rate fell from 5.2 per cent in October of last year, to 4.1 per cent last month.

Spokesman Tom Austin says the number of people employed rose by 1,000.

"Most of that is in education and health services, but we did see gains in other industries, such as construction, manufacturing, and professional and business services. There were some losses in retail trade and that was down over the year, as well as leisure and hospitality."

The unemployment rate of 4.1 per cent last month means about 76-hundred people were out of work, and looking for a job. It was also the lowest October rate since 2006. 

The lowest rate in Illinois last month was Bloomington with 3.8 per cent, while the Quad Cities tied with Champaign and Urbana at 4.1. The highest rates were in Rockford, at 5 per cent, and Decatur, at 5.2 per cent. 

A native of Detroit, Herb Trix began his radio career as a country-western disc jockey in Roswell, New Mexico (“KRSY, your superkicker in the Pecos Valley”), in 1978. After a stint at an oldies station in Topeka, Kansas (imagine getting paid to play “Louie Louie” and “Great Balls of Fire”), he wormed his way into news, first in Topeka, and then in Freeport Illinois.