The Illinois unemployment rate slightly fell to 8.7 percent in April from 8.8 percent in March, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security. But state employers created just 100 more jobs last month than they cut, a disquieting stat that mirrors national unemployment trends.

The federal unemployment rate fell, but only because people gave up looking for work, and just 115,000 jobs were created last April.

Illinois enjoyed better economic growth earlier in the year, when the state created an average of 6,300 jobs each month.