Unfortunately, unemployment in our area slightly increased from September 2012 to October.
There's good news and bad news regarding unemployment numbers in neighboring Batavia and St. Charles: They're better than they were a year ago but worse than last month.
Geneva isn't included because the stats are for communities with 25,000 population or more. The data is released by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
Unemployment rates in Illinois overall reflect the same pattern. They increased slightly from September 2012 to October, but are still down compared to 2011, according to new figures released last week.
"Falling unemployment rates across our state and the lowest October rates since 2008 show that that our steady economic progress continues," IDES Director Jay Rowell said in a news release. "We now look to Congress to address the fiscal cliff. If not resolved, our future economic progress will be in jeopardy."
The IDES numbers measure unemployment for residents who live in a certain town, not those who work in the town.
Statewide, the unemployment rate increased from 8.1 percent in September 2012 to 8.4 percent in October. Compared to October 2011, unemployment in Illinois has dropped 1.2 percent.
The U.S. average unemployment rate was 7.5 percent in October 2012.
KANE
| Oct. 2012 | Sept. 2012 | Oct. 2011 | % Change Over Month | % Change Over Year | |
| Aurora | 8.0 | 7.6 | 8.8 | 0.4 | -0.8 |
| Batavia | 7.1 | 6.7 | 7.8 | 0.4 | -0.7 |
| Elgin | 8.7 | 8.2 | 10.7 | 0.5 | -2.0 |
| St. Charles (Kane County portion) | 6.5 | 6.0 | 7.9 | 0.5 | -1.4 |
| Kane County | 7.8 | 7.3 | 9.0 | 0.5 | -1.2 |
| Illinois | 8.4 | 8.1 | 9.6 | 0.3 | -1.2 |
| U.S. Average | 7.5 | 7.6 | 8.5 | -0.1 | -1.0 |
