Unemployment dropped two-tenths of a percent in Marion County in August to 5.2 percent. The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports the rate was down a full percent from August a year ago.
Actual numbers put the number of unemployed in Marion County at 851. The total labor market is placed at 16,677. The number in the workforce dropped 13 and the number of unemployed was down 44 from July.
Washington County continues to have the lowest unemployment rate in the region at 2.4-percent. That’s a drop of four-tenths of a percent since July and in August of last year. Clinton County’s rate dropped two-tenths of a percent to 2.9-percent. Jefferson County had a steady unemployment rate of 5.4-percent. Wayne County’s rate was stable at 4.1-percent. The Fayette County rate dropped a tenth of a percent to 4.2-percent. Clay County’s rate fell a half-percent to 4.9-percent.
IDES reports 550 new jobs added in the Centralia-Mt. Vernon labor market since August of last year. They include 150 new jobs in government, 100 in leisure and hospitality, 75 in professional and business services, and 25 apiece in educational and health services, construction, as well as trade, transportation, and utilities.
There was a decrease of 50 employees in financial activities.
Statewide, unemployment fell from 6.1-percent a year ago to 4.8-percent this August.
