The Illinois Department of Employment Security says unemployment rose in January in all but one of the state's metro areas. Bloomington-Normal's rate went from 5.3 percent to 6.5 percent.
According to the monthly report, the sharpest increases were in the Peoria and Danville areas. Unemployment in Peoria rose from 7.2 percent in January 2015 to 8.6 percent this January. And in Danville the jobless rate rose from 7.7 percent to a statewide high of 9.1 percent.
Peoria is home to Caterpillar Inc. The heavy equipment-maker last year announced plans to lay off thousands of employees around the world. The Chicago area had the state's only unemployment decrease. The jobless rate in the state's largest metro area dropped form 6.9 percent to 6.6 percent.
The department said earlier this month that statewide unemployment rose in January to 6.3 percent.
Unemployment rates increased in all but one of Illinois' metro areas in January.
Metropolitan Area January 2016 January 2015 Change
Bloomington 6.5% 5.3% 1.2%
Carbondale-Marion 7.7% 6.5% 1.2%
Champaign-Urbana 6.7% 5.7% 1.0%
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights 6.6% 6.9% -0.3%
Danville 9.1% 7.7% 1.4%
Davenport, IA-Moline-Rock Island, IL 7.1% 6.5% 0.6%
Decatur 8.7% 7.8% 0.9%
Elgin 7.5% 6.7% 0.8%
Kankakee 8.7% 7.9% 0.8%
Lake, Illinois-Kenosha, Wisconsin 7.0% 6.4% 0.6%
Peoria 8.6% 7.2% 1.4%
Rockford 8.5% 7.7% 0.8%
Springfield 6.6% 5.9% 0.7%
St. Louis Metro East 7.4% 6.8% 0.6%
Source: Illinois Department of Employment Security