CHICAGO (AP) — Unemployment rates in every Illinois’ metropolitan areas declined in August for an 18th straight month but six metro areas lost jobs.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security said Thursday the job that four of the metro areas losing jobs were in the western half of the state. The Davenport-Moline-Rock Island area of Illinois and Iowa lost 4,200 jobs, the Peoria area lost 2,600, the Illinois suburbs of St. Louis lost 1,100, and the Springfield area lost 600 jobs.

Also losing jobs were the Kankakee metro area with 700 fewer positions and the Decatur area, down by 100.

Department Director Jeff Mays says that a portion of a decline in unemployment rates occurs when people drop out of the labor force.

Statewide, Illinois gained 32,300 jobs last month over August 2014.

 

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