The unemployment rate in the Rockford metro area continues to fall.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports the October jobless rate for Winnebago and Boone counties was at 10.8%. That compares to 12.5% in October of last year.

The state says the region added 600 jobs during the time period. Manufacturing added 2100 jobs during the previous 12 months, however, retail trade reported reported 1600 jobs lost during that same time frame.

For individual cities, Rockford's rate went from 14.7% to 12.4% percent. Belvidere went from 13.3% to 11.5 percent.