Unemployment rates throughout Illinois remain stable, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

The IDES also released monthly figures that show an increase in unemployment in all 12 metropolitan areas in Illinois from last year’s rates.

For the month of September, Coles County had an unemployment rate of 6.3 percent, .6 percent lower than the state’s average unemployment rate, which were both down from last month’s highs of 7.1 percent and 7.3 percent.

“This is partly due to the Coles County’s job availability in the fields of education and health services,” said IDES Coles County analyst Dennis Hoffman. “These are strong fields across the country, and Coles County benefits from the increase in job availability in these fields.”

With job markets increasing because of Eastern, Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, other local health services and education fields, Coles County should remain relatively stable, Hoffman said.

“However, I know we will see an increase in unemployment still over the months of November and December bringing us to a high point in January and February as past trends have shown,” he said.

Hoffman said there is also a traditional increase in employment in college communities in the fall, when students return to put money into the economies of those regions.

The retail trade industry, which has had the most overall increase in job loss from last year, gets a boost from the 10,000-plus students that spend money in the school community, he said.

City Manager Scott Smith said he is available for any questions or concerns expressed by the community.

Despite Coles County’s ability to stay below the state average, the state still flounders above a national rate of 6.1 percent, which has remained stable from September to October, according to the IDES.

Hoffman said this is because nationally, the manufacturing industry has had significant job loss.

“Illinois relies heavily on the manufacturing industry and the unemployment – the seasonal and permanent layoffs within these companies – has greatly affected Illinois,” he said.

Michigan has also been greatly affected by the loss of manufacturing with an unemployment rate of 8.1 percent. Other neighboring states reflect the economic inconsistency, said IDES Director Maureen O’Donnell.

Wisconsin has a significant loss of 12,400 jobs from August to September, inconsistent with the national average. Iowa’s unemployment rate stands at 4.2 percent, well below the national rate. Indiana and Missouri fall over the unemployment rate at 6.2 and 6.4 percent, but remain below Illinois’ rate. Kentucky sits slightly higher than Illinois at 7.1 percent.

O’Donnell said the IDES is pushing the support of the Illinois Works Jobs Plan, which should aid in the economic instability for not only Illinois, but the nation as a whole.

“The economic slowdown continues to challenge Illinois’ regional areas,” she said. “The Illinois Works Jobs Plan would spark job creation and bolster local economies. It also would work as a buffer to the continued national economic decline.”

Metropolitan areas close to Coles County have seen significant job loss during the last year, according to September’s numbers. Champaign-Urbana has seen a 1.2 percent increase from 4.5 percent in 2007. Decatur’s unemployment rate has increased to 7.4 percent from 5.7 percent last year. Hoffman said though the numbers are high, it is not shocking.

“We have seen a significant increase from last year every month,” he said. “Any economist expects these numbers by now.”

October state rates will be released today, reflecting that month’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate. Approximately five days later, the county and regional rates will be released by the IDES. Hoffman expects the rates to remain stable, as reflected by the national stability over the last month.

Krystal Moya can be reached at 581-7945 or at [email protected].