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.
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."
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
Yes there is so-called old guard RINO (Republican In Name Only) running Plainfield, which has no control on state decisions or bills and income tax rates. Furthermore I don’t work in Plainfield, but I live it and have for the decade of residence here, like more people I know within the community. @ Eyes: As for blaming one party, I do not, Tom Cross leading the minority is a joke of a leader and after his shellacking he should have stepped down to let a conservative leader with a real juxtaposition take over. Alas I digress because Illinois is a problematic state when you’ve got guys like Ron, who would vote for a Dead Dog (D) as long as that “D” is present. So blaming the minority party it’s worked great. Furthermore I’d be willing to bet guys like Ron have never been to a township meeting, or even looked at an alternative news source that doesn’t have Leftist spewing the same tired lines each and every afternoon on MSNBC. Vote Independent Conservative Citizens that have real careers, private experience, and knowledge of the real world. Sorry Ron, go back pretending you know what you’re talking about.
If you cared about these things, you would have already bought them. The consumer is a heartless beast when it comes to pricing, including you it seems. It's nice to talk the talk, but when it comes time to walk the walk, you yourself have not followed your own advice of how to get a prosperous community. All of the items you mentioned could have been bought 'made in the USA', yet you didn't buy them - why?