Unemployment is down across South Central Illinois in October.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports that 5.1 percent of Marion County residents are listed as unemployed. That’s down from 5.5 percent in September and up six-tenths of a percent from last October.
That translates into 858 on the unemployment rolls, down from 934 in September. Marion County’s total workforce is placed at 16,882, down 93 from September.
The lowest unemployment in the region remains in Washington County at 2.7 percent. That’s a drop of a tenth of a percent from September and is half-percent higher than a year ago. The biggest drop was in Jefferson County, down a full percent to 4.8 percent but still six-tenths of a percent higher than last year. Clinton County had an unemployment rate of 3.2 percent, a four-tenths of a percent drop from September but still four-tenths of a percent higher than a year ago. Fayette County’s rate dropped to 4.4 percent, a decrease of four-tenths of a percent but seven-tenths of a percent higher than last year. Clay County’s rate fell four-tenths of a percent to 5.5 percent. That’s still 1.5 percent higher than October a year ago.
The Illinois Department of Employment Services reports 900 jobs were created between October of this year and last year. There were 325 additional jobs added in both government as well as leisure and hospitality. 200 jobs were added in professional and business services. Construction and other services both increased 75 jobs and health services and financial activities were both up 50 jobs. There was no change in employment reported in the information industry. There were 125 fewer jobs in trade, transportation and utilities. The number of utility workers was down 100.
