Unemployment hits 6.2 percent in December

By Metro News Service

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois' unemployment rate is down to 6.2 percent.

That's a slight improvement from November's 6.4 percent rate.

State officials say the biggest gains were seen in the construction, education services, health services, and leisure and hospitality sectors.

The state still lags behind the rest of the nation on the jobs front, though. The national unemployment rate is at 5.6 percent.

Illinois' unemployment rate is at its lowest point since May 2008.

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