The latest unemployment numbers for South Central Illinois show a slight increase from July, but a big jump from August a year ago.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports Marion County’s unemployment rate for August is 5.9-percent. That’s up a tenth of a percent from July, but an increase of 1.3-percent from a year ago. The Marion County labor force is now at 16,999 people. That’s up 31 people from July. There are 1,004 on unemployment, an increase of eight from last month.
Washington County has the lowest unemployment in the region at 3.3-percent. That’s up one tenth of a percent from July and nine-tenths of a percent from last August. Clinton County’s unemployment increases two-tenths of a percent to an even four-percent. That’s 1.2-percent higher than a year ago. Jefferson County’s unemployment jumped a tenth of a percent to 5.8-percent and is up an even one percent from last August. Fayette County’s unemployment increased a tenth of a percent to 5.4-percent. That’s 1.4-percent higher than a year ago. Clay County’s unemployment was at 6.3-percent in August, up two tenths of a percent from July and 1.5-percent from last August.
The state job service says there were 675 more jobs in August than a year earlier. The biggest increase was in government, up 300 people. Construction as well as Professional and Business Services were up 17 jobs apiece. Educational and Health Services, Leisure and Hospitality as well as other services were up 50 jobs apiece. Areas of decrease were trade, transportation and utilities down 100 jobs and manufacturing down 75 jobs.
