Unemployment fell one-tenth of a percent in Marion County in October to 4.8-percent. That’s two-tenths of a percent lower than in October a year ago. The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports 794 on the unemployment rolls, down 25 from September. The county’s labor market condensed slightly to 16,671. That’s a drop of 69 people from the prior month.
Washington County has the lowest unemployment in the region at 2.5-percent, a drop of two-tenths of a person. Clinton County’s rate fell one-tenth of a percent to 3.1-percent. Jefferson County’s rate remained stable at 4.8-percent and Fayette County’s rate at 4.4-percent. Clay County’s rate dropped a tenth of a percent to 5.1-percent.
Statewide, unemployment is now at 5.2-percent.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports total nonfarm employment in the Centralia-Mt. Vernon area increased 75 from a year ago. The biggest increases are in private education and health services, up 22, government up 100 jobs, and construction up 75 jobs. Leisure and hospitality, professional business services and natural resources-mining all increased 50 jobs. Information sectors remained stable. There was a decrease of 225 manufacturing jobs, 150 jobs in trade-transportation-utilities and 25 in financial activities.
