State Jobless Rate Unchanged for December

The state's jobless rate for December was unchanged at 8.7%.

Preliminary data released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security says the rate is down a full percent from the 9.7% rate in December 2011.

Total payrolls decreased 7,600 in December, nearly one-third of which were temporary layoffs with return-to-work dates in January.

In December, the number of unemployed Illinoisans increased 1,700.