Associated Press | Unemployment in Illinois rose slightly from
January to February. The seasonally adjusted jobless rate for February
was 11.4 percent. That compares to 11.3 percent in January. There were
900 fewer jobs in Illinois in February.

Illinois Department of Employment Security Director Maureen O’Donnell
says she’s encouraged that the job loss pace is slowing in the state.
She says a few more months of data are needed before it’s possible to
assess the path of recovery.

Illinois’ jobless rate is at its highest level since July 1983. Since the recession began in December 2007, the nation has lost 8.4 million jobs and Illinois has lost 403,600 jobs.

The national unemployment rate in February was 9.7 percent.