Unemployment in Elmhurst Down Slightly, Dropping .3 Percent October to November

Unemployment rates in Elmhurst improved slightly from October to November, mirroring the improvement across DuPage County for that time period. But year-over-year unemployment rates are tracking somewhat better than that in many DuPage communities.

November local unemployment rates fell in 11 of 12 metro areas compared to last year, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

Unemployment rates statewide dropped slightly from October to November, to 8.2 percent, and are a full percentage point lower compared to 2011, according to new figures released last month.

The U.S. average unemployment rate was 7.4 percent in November 2012.

"The trend of falling unemployment rates across Illinois shows that our economy continues to improve," IDES Director Jay Rowell said, adding that the fiscal cliff issue had been the biggest challenge to local economic growth.

Last week, President Barack Obama signed into law the American Taxpayer Relief Act, which increases taxes on the wealthy and extends expiring jobless benefits.

IDES generally reports unemployment figures for municipalities with populations of 25,000 or more people. The numbers measure unemployment for residents who live in a certain town, not those who work in the town. 

DUPAGE