Illinois Unemployment Rate Holds Steady Due to Lagging Job-Creation

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois’ unemployment rate has held steady at 5.4 percent in October, but the state added jobs for the first time since spring.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the state added a net 14,400 jobs in October. The total number of jobs in Illinois had declined for four straight months. Department director Jeff Mays said the state’s job-creation still lags much of the country but noted the job growth was the strongest since February. The national unemployment rate for October was 5 percent.