Unemployment in Marion County and across South Central Illinois is up in December compared to November and a year ago as stricter COVID-19 regulations went into effect.
In Marion County, 5.9-percent of the labor force was listed as unemployed in December. That’s up from 5.6-percent in November and up 1.3-percent from a year ago.
State Department of Employment Security data shows 969 current unemployed out of the county’s total workforce of 16,492. The county’s workforce fell by nearly 300 people during the past month as the number of jobs shrank so the actual number on employment only grew by 19 people.
Washington County had the lowest rate in the region at 3.2-percent. Clinton County’s rate increased to 3.7-percent. Jefferson County’s rate is at 5.8-percent. Fayette County’s rate is up to 5.1-percent. Clay County’s rate is now at 5.8-percent.
The Centralia-Mt. Vernon labor market has seen the number of jobs contract by 3,800 since December a year ago. The biggest drop is in manufacturing, down 1,300 jobs. Educational and Health Services fell 775 jobs as did leisure and hospitality. Government employment fell 250 jobs in the past year. No areas increased the number of employees, with construction down the fewest jobs at just 25.
However, compared to the rest of the state Marion County has seen a lower increase in unemployment. In December of last year, Marion County’s unemployment rate was 42nd highest in the state. It is now the 30th highest.
