More than 1.2 million Illinois unemployment claims in last 11 weeks

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security yesterday released new statewide data showing the department received over 70,000 new claims for unemployment last week. They say they have processed 1.2 million claims for unemployment benefits since March 1st, 12 times the number of claims the department processed over the same period last year. Statewide the unemployment rate is at 16.4%.