The Illinois Department of Employment Security is reporting a 1.1-percent increase in unemployment in Marion County between December and January.
The latest unemployment numbers show 5.5-percent of the workforce unemployed, which translates into 909 on the unemployment rolls. That compares to 756 unemployed in December. The county’s labor force remained virtually unchanged at 16,542. On the positive side, the unemployment rate is down 1.6-percent from January last year.
Unemployment was up in all other area counties as well. Washington County saw a seven-tenths of a percent increase to 2.8-percent but was still the lowest in the region. Clay and Jefferson County now have the highest rates at 5.7-percent. Both are up 1.3-percent from December. Fayette County’s rate has jumped 1.6-percent to 5.3-percent. Clinton County’s rate increased 1.1-percent to 3.5-percent.
All the January rates are more than one percent lower than in January a year ago.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports nonfarm employment increased by 900 since January 2021. Employment increased in leisure and hospitality by 475 people, government by 400, and professional and business services by 150.
