CHICAGO (AP) -- Illinois' unemployment rate fell to 10.3 percent in July.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security says July represents the seventh consecutive month the rate was steady or declined.

It was down slightly from June's rate of 10.4 percent.

IDES Director Maureen O'Donnell cautions that long-term trends will be a better gauge of the state's economic health.

She says workers should obtain skills that will bring job opportunities.

There were 683,700 people unemployed in July, about 10,000 fewer than in the previous month.

The Illinois economy lost about 20,000 jobs in July due to a construction work stoppage and the ending of temporary Census 2010 positions.

Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July was 9.5 percent.

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Online: Illinois Department of Employment Security: http://www.ides.state.il.us

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