CHICAGO (AP) -- Figures released today by the Illinois Department of Employment Security show unemployment was highest in the Rockford area at 15.7 percent. That's up from 15.2 percent in September.

The Kankakee-Bradley area ranked second with a 13.3 percent jobless rate. Also in double-digits were Decatur with 12.7 percent, Danville with 12.1 percent, Peoria with 11.7 percent, the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet area with 10.4 percent and Lake-Kenosha with 10.2 percent.

The lowest metropolitan jobless rate for October was 7.7 percent in the Bloomington-Normal area.

IDES Director Maureen O'Donnell says local economic recovery will likely lag behind a national recovery.