Unemployment dropped across South Central Illinois in March.
In Marion County, the rate fell one-tenth of a percent to 4.4 percent and is down six-tenths of a percent from last March. The numbers translate into 713 on the unemployment rolls last month, down 13 from the previous month. The county number of employed increased 121 people to 16,095.
Clinton County had the lowest unemployment in the region at 2.9-percent. That is a drop of six-tenths of a percent from February.
Washington County’s rate also dropped six-tenths of a percent to 3.7-percent.
Jefferson County’s rate dropped four-tenths of a percent to 4.3-percent. Clay County’s rate fell a half-percent to 4.6 percent. Fayette County’s rate dipped a full percent to 4.4-percent.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports total nonfarm employment dropped by 600 jobs in the past year. The biggest growth areas have been private education-health services, up 300, and Government up100 jobs. The biggest declines are in manufacturing and trade-transportation-utilities, both down 275 jobs in the past year. Leisure-Hospitality fell 200 jobs, construction 100 jobs and natural resources and mining down 100 jobs.
The statewide unemployment rate is five percent, the same it was last March.
