Chicago’s jobless rate in August fell to 9.7 percent, down from 10.1 percent a year ago. The unemployment figure for the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville area was reported Thursday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

The Chicago was one of nine metro areas that fell in August in Illinois compared to the same month last year. Rates were unchanged in two, and in one, Kankakee-Bradley, saw a slight increase.

The department announced Thursday overall unemployment in Illinois fell to 9.9 percent last month. The rate was not seasonally adjusted.

The Rockford metro area continues to have the highest unemployment rate in the state at 14.5 percent, down from 16.1 percent in August 2009.

The unemployment in Illinois’ largest metropolitan area, nationally, the unemployment was 9.5 percent in August.