Newly released Illinois jobs report points to anemic jobs growth and a contracting labor force.

Newly released data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows weak jobs gains and a shrinking U.S. workforce in September.

Despite being the most populous state in the Midwest, Illinois has added just 13,400 payroll jobs in 2015 – fewer than any other neighboring state.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the national unemployment rate rose in October to 7.3 percent from 7.2 percent one month earlier. There are 11.3 million Americans currently unemployed. The U-6 unemployment rate, which includes all workers who are unemployed or underemployed, rose to 13.8 percent, up from last month’s 13.6 percent. In total,...