Illinois employers added 6,400 jobs in February and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 8.7 percent and down from 9.2 percent one year ago, according to preliminary data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The 8.7 percent unemployment rate in January and February is the lowest since February 2009 when it was 8.5 percent.  Illinois added 257,400 private sector jobs since January 2010 when job growth returned following nearly two years of consecutive monthly declines.  In February 2014, the number of unemployed individuals increased 1,900 to 569,100.  The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment.  A person who exhausts benefits, or is ineligible, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.