The unemployment rate in Illinois is back over 11 percent. New data released today by the Illinois Department of Employment Security shows that non-farm payroll fell for the 23rd straight month and the jobless rate jumped to 11.1 percent, the highest it's been since 1983. Here's our latest chart comparing Illinois and national data:

Over 700,000 Illinoisans are currently considered unemployed. But that number is certainly a conservative estimate. Economists are now concerned that a number of people are dropping out of the work force altogether, which means that they are no longer added to the IDES tabulations.

This new data underscores the importance of initiatives at both the federal and state level to spur job growth and shield the unemployed from economic strain. Expect to see some action on multiple fronts in the coming weeks.