The Illinois Department of Employment Security says unemployment jumped across the state and all South Central Illinois counties in January compared to December and January a year ago.
Marion County’s unemployment rate is now 7.2-percent. That’s up from 5.9-percent in December and four-percent a year ago. The 7.2-percent unemployment translates into 1,182 unemployed compared to 1.095 in December. The county’s total workforce fell 100 people to 16,500.
Washington County had the lowest rate in the region at four-percent. That was up eight-tenths of a percent from December. Clinton County’s rate increased from 3.7 to 4.6-percent. Jefferson County’s rate jumped from 5.8 to 7.5-percent. Fayette County’s unemployment increased two full percent to 7.1-percent. Clay County’s rate increased from 5.8-percent to 7.3-percent.
Statewide, the unemployment rate was 8.5-percent, more than double the rate in January of last year of 4-percent.
