Unemployment dropped across South Central Illinois in May.
In Marion County unemployment dropped eight-tenths of a percent to 6.2-percent. That translates into 878 on the unemployment rolls, down 130 from April when the unemployment rate was 6.2-percent. A year ago, unemployment in Marion County was 18.8-percent.
Across the Centralia-Mt. Vernon labor market, 4,950 jobs have been added since May of last year. The biggest increase has been in manufacturing with an increase of 2,025 jobs. Leisure and Hospitality gained 975 jobs. Trade, Transportation, and utilities added 550 jobs. Government jobs were up 475. No sector of the economy saw a drop in the number of employees.
The lowest unemployment in the region was 2.4-percent in Washington County, down seven-tenths of a percent from April. Clinton County’s rate was 2.9-percent, a drop of four-tenths of a percent. Jefferson County had the highest rate in the region at 5.8-percent, down nine-tenths of a percent from last month. Fayette County’s rate fell a full percent to 4.2-percent and Clay County’s rate is down nine-tenths of a percent to 4.8-percent.
The statewide unemployment rate is currently at 6.7-percent. Unemployment was down and the number employed was up in every labor market in the state.
