Illinois Unemployment Continues To Go Down Slowly

SPRINGFIELD (CBS) -- From the Illinois' Department of Employment Security, spokesman Greg Rivara says the November unemployment is rate is 8.7 percent, down from 8.8 percent in October and down from 9.8 percent in November a year ago.

"Both data is significant," said Rivera. "Because is seasonally adjusted-data, it shows we are doing better in November than we were in October and it shows we are doing significantly better this November compared to last November. What it does is it emphasizes that these very small monthly movements do add up over time and it shows how that trend continues."

So what must we keep in mind as December 31 approaches?

"We need to feel that Congress is working together and moving forward," said Rivara. "What that will do is reinforce consumer confidence and we know that consumer confidence makes up nearly 70 percent of our economic spending."

Rivara says another thing, if you are looking for a job, see if your skills are up-to-date, perhaps the job you were best suited for has now been combined with another.

Rivara says the number of unemployed people in the state is about 574,000.

In:
• Springfield