Politics & Government

Unemployment Report: Jobless Numbers Up Across Plainfield, Will County

Although unemployment is down from this time compared to last year, numbers increased from September 2012 to October.

Unemployment rates in Illinois increased slightly from September 2012 to October, but are still down compared to 2011, according to new figures released last week. 

Plainfield's unemployment crept up slightly, increasing to 6.9 percent in October compared with 6.5 percent in September. A year ago, the rate was 8.1 percent.

October local unemployment rates fell in every metro area compared to last year, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

Find out what's happening in Plainfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In Will County the rate increased to 8.1 percent from 7.7 percent month over month —but dropped more than 1 percent compared with a year ago. In Kendall County unemployment ticked up in October to 7.1 percent from 6.6 percent in September. 

"Falling unemployment rates across our state and the lowest October rates since 2008 show that that our steady economic progress continues," IDES Director Jay Rowell said in a news release. "We now look to Congress to address the fiscal cliff. If not resolved, our future economic progress will be in jeopardy."

Find out what's happening in Plainfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

IDES generally reports unemployment figures for municipalities with populations of 25,000 or more people. The numbers measure unemployment for residents who live in a certain town, not those who work in the town. 

Statewide the unemployment rate increased from 8.1 percent in September 2012 to 8.4 percent in October. Compared to October 2011, unemployment in Illinois has dropped 1.2 percent. 

The U.S. average unemployment rate was 7.5 percent in October 2012. 

Oct. 2012 Sept. 2012 Oct. 2011 % Change Over Month % Change Over Year Bolingbrook (Will County portion) 7.9 7.4 9.1 0.5 -1.2 Joliet 9.9 9.5 11.7 0.4 -1.8 Naperville (Will County portion) 7.1 6.4 7.8 0.7 -0.7 Oswego 7.4 6.7 8.2 0.7 -0.8 Plainfield 6.9 6.5 8.1 0.4 -1.2 Romeoville 8.2 7.9 9.2 0.3 -1.0 Kendall County 7.1 6.6 8.3 0.5 -1.2 Will County 8.1 7.7 9.5 0.4 -1.4 Illinois 8.4 8.1 9.6 0.3 -1.2 U.S. Average 7.5 7.6 8.5 -0.1 -1.0


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