Unemployment remained at 5.4-percent in Marion County in January. The rate is three-tenths of a percent higher than in January a year ago.
There were 853 on unemployment in January, down three from December. The county’s workforce grew 81 people from the prior month and was at 15,891 people in January.
Clinton County had the lowest unemployment in the region at 3.7-percent, a drop of a tenth percent from December. The rate is identical from January a year ago.
Jefferson County’s unemployment jumped three-tenths of a percent to 5.9 percent, which is up 1.1-percent from a year earlier.
Washington County’s rate stayed at 3.9 percent in December and has an identical unemployment rate from January a year ago.
Clay County’s rate fell one-tenth of a percent to 6.1-percent and is one percent higher than a year ago.
Fayette County’s unemployment is 6.9-percent. That’s up eight-tenths of a percent since December and is 1.1 percent higher than December a year ago.
The Illinois Department of Employment Services reports a decline of 300 jobs from January a year ago. Private education-health services fell 350 jobs; government jobs were down 100 jobs and construction jobs were down 50. The biggest employment losses were in professional-business services, down 300 jobs, manufacturing down 250, financial activities as well as trade-transportation-utilities were down 75 jobs apiece and leisure-hospitality down 50 jobs.
