Sept. Illinois Unemployment Rate Release Delayed

The Illinois Department of Employment Security says it will indefinitely delay the release of statewide unemployment data for September because of the partial federal-government shutdown.

Department Director Jay Rowell said Friday that labor-market analysts at his federally funded agency and at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics were furloughed during the shutdown that ended Thursday. Those analysts comb job-related data to determine the state unemployment rate each month.
 
The jobless rate for September was due to be released Friday. No new date has been set. Unemployment in Illinois was 9.2 percent. That's one of the highest rates in the country.
 
The department said its monthly local economic reports that were due to be released on Oct. 24 will also be indefinitely delayed.