The Illinois Department of Employment Security says unemployment in the state continued to drop in September, falling to 6.6 percent.
The slight drop from 6.7 percent in August was the seventh straight monthly decrease in state unemployment.
The state's jobless rate has dropped from 9.2 percent in August 2013. But it still remains higher than the 5.9 percent national unemployment rate.
Department Director Jay Rowell said Friday private-sector employers are adding an average of more than 5,400 new jobs a month since recovery from recession began.
Unemployment has been a major issue in the state's gubernatorial campaign.
Gov. Pat Quinn has called declining unemployment a sign Illinois is headed in the right direction. Republican challenger Bruce Rauner has blamed Quinn for contributing to the high rates Illinois is recovering from.
