The Illinois unemployment rate continues to fall.
Illinois Department of Employment Security spokesperson Rebecca Cisco says September was the third month in a row for a decline in the state's jobless rate.
"We are at 10.2 % unemployment rate. So, we're remaining cautiously optimistic in terms of the downward trend in the unemployment rate for Illinois. The largest over-the-month gains were seen in the leisure and hospitality industry; trade, transportation and utilities and other services."
But, about 12,000 jobs were lost, including in the professional and business services, government and health sectors.
The national unemployment rate for September came in at 7.9 percent.