Tom Austin from the Illinois Department of Employment Security says the Quad Cities gained 9,300 jobs during the past year.
"The industry that was one of the hardest hit during the pandemic was leisure and hospitality and we continue to see that industry grow back from where it was prior to the pandemic."
Other big gains occurred in government, professional and business services, manufacturing and retail.
The Quad Cities lost about 600 jobs - in education and health, financial services, and information.
As in previous months, the highest unemployment rates in October were in Galesburg at 5.5 per cent, and Knox County at 5.2 per cent. And the lowest rates were in Mercer County and Henderson County - both at 3.2 per cent.
Last month in Illinois, jobless rates declined in 12 of the major metro areas, increased in one, and were unchanged in another.
