Unemployment was up across South Central Illinois in May, compared to April.
In Marion County, the unemployment rate is now 3.8-percent, up three- tenths of a percent from April, but is down nine-tenths of a percent from a year ago. The numbers translate into a labor force of 16,004 with 603 on the unemployment rolls, up 40 from last month.
Clinton County continues to have the lowest unemployment rate in the region. The 2.6-percent rate is up four-tenths of a percent from April. Washington County's rate is up two-tenths of a percent to 2.9-percent. In Jefferson County, the rate increased a half-percent to 4.1-percent. Clay County’s rate was up six-tenths of a percent to 4.2-percent. In Fayette County, the rate increased three-tenths of a percent to 3.8-percent.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported 475 fewer nonfarm jobs than a year ago. The biggest increases were in private education- health services up 200 jobs, government jobs up 100 jobs, and construction up 50 jobs. Payroll job losses occurred among employers in manufacturing, down 300 jobs, trade-transportation-utilities, down 275 jobs, and leisure- hospitality down 125 jobs.