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Mixed Jobs News In Illinois

Illinois' jobless rate is still well above the national average. The state's rate for August was 9.2 percent. But there were some positive signs within the numbers. Greg Rivara is a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Employment Security. He says the state did add nearly 6,000 private sector jobs last month.

"We have unemployment not dropping, job growth occurring and significant help wanted ads across the state," department spokesman Greg Rivara said. "It suggests that employers are looking to hire if they can find a very specific candidate at a very specific price.

"The numbers," he added, "reflect a buyers' market for employers."

Governor Pat Quinn, meanwhile, made a jobs announcement in the Rockford area Thursday. He says a trio of local companies are expanding, creating more than 90 jobs. Those companies include Curtis Metal Finishing Company, HMC Products Inc., and Practice Velocity, LLC.