State Unemployment Rises to 9.1%

WMBD/WYZZ TV - CHICAGO - Thousands of Illinois workers lost their job last month, as the state of Illinois records its sixth straight month of job losses.

New numbers show Illinois unemployment rate hit 9.1% in March - the highest level since 1985, and 0.5% higher than the current national average. Illinois employers cut 39,300  jobs last month, and 232, 300 jobs have been lost since march of last year.

The number of unemployed people in the state has reached 596, 000, the highest level since 1983.

Meanwhile Governor Pat Quinn is taking action to help unemployed workers in the Land of Lincoln. Quinn announced today that federal stimulus money will be used to fund an additional 13 weeks of unemployment insurance for anyone out of job. But with the extended benefits come more stringent requirements, For more information from the Illinois Department of Employment Security, click here .