McHenry County’s unemployment rate fell to 7.5 percent in October, down from 8.7 percent a year ago, according to preliminary data released Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

The jobless rate in the city of McHenry was 7.8 percent compared with 9.3 percent in 2011, said IDES spokeman Greg Rivara. Other jobless numbers showed Algonquin at 7.2 percent, down from 8.6 percent a year ago; Crystal Lake, 7.9 percent, down from 9 percent; and Lake in the Hills, 7.3 percent, down from 8.6 percent. Carpentersville’s jobless rate fell to 8.3 percent compared with 10.1 percent a year ago.

The jobless rate improved from 9 percent to 7.8 percent in Kane County.