Associated Press - November 19, 2009 8:44 PM ET

CHICAGO (AP) - Officials report today that Illinois' unemployment rate continued to climb last month, rising to its highest level in more than a quarter century.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rose from 10.5 percent to 11 percent between September and October. That brought the rate to its highest mark since August 1983. As recently as October of last year, the Illinois unemployment rate was only 6.8 percent.

The department says the number of jobs fell by 3,200 - making October the 21st straight month in which the number of jobs has dropped.

But officials also say that the rate at which people have lost their jobs slowed considerably.

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