Unemployment rates in East Central Illinois moved up again in July, but the rates remain slightly lower than at the same time last year.

Champaign County's unemployment rate of 9 percent was up from 8.7 percent in June, but down from 9.7 percent a year ago.

Similarly, Vermilion County's unemployment rate of 10.3 percent was up from 9.8 percent in June. But it was lower than the 12.2 percent seen in July 2010.

Here are the July unemployment rates for other area counties, along with the change from June:

— Coles, 9.8, up from 9.5.

— DeWitt, 8.1, up from 7.6.

— Douglas, 8.2, up from 7.9.

— Edgar, 9.9, up from 8.9.

— Ford, 8.4, up from 8.2.

— Iroquois, 8.1, up from 7.9.

— McLean, 7.4, up from 7.

— Moultrie, 7.3, up from 6.9.

— Piatt, 7.5, up from 7.3.

In Champaign County, an estimated 9,175 people were out of work and looking for a job in July, while 92,638 were employed, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

In Vermilion County, an estimated 3,800 people were out of a job and seeking work in July, while 32,919 were employed.

Among cities, Champaign saw its highest unemployment rate so far this year — 9.4 percent — as did Urbana, at 10.2 percent. Danville's rate rose to 11.5 percent in July.

The Champaign-Urbana metropolitan area — which includes Champaign, Ford and Piatt counties — had the fifth-lowest unemployment rate among Illinois metro areas in July.

Its rate of 8.9 percent was bettered by Bloomington-Normal at 7.4 percent; Springfield at 7.5 percent; the Illinois portion of Davenport-Moline-Rock Island at 7.6 percent; and Peoria at 8.3 percent.

Rates for other Illinois metro areas included: the Illinois portion of the St. Louis metro area, 9 percent; Dan- ville, 10.3 percent; Chicago-Joliet-Naper- ville, 10.3 percent; Decatur, 10.5 percent; Kankakee-Bradley, 11.3 percent; and Rockford, 12.1 percent.

However, the Champaign-Urbana metro area had the largest over-the-year drop in total non-farm jobs. It had 2,600 fewer such jobs in July than it did a year ago.

The Bloomington-Normal and Danville also had drops, while most other Illinois areas had gains.

The state unemployment rate in July was 9.5 percent, slightly higher than the national rate of 9.1 percent.

Among Illinois counties, Brown County in west central Illinois had the lowest rate in July, 4.4 percent. Alexander County in extreme southern Illinois had the highest rate, 13.6 percent.