Unemployment changed little in South Central Illinois between July and August.
The Illinois Department of Employment security reports unemployment in both months in Marion County was 4.2-percent, which was nine-tenths of a percent lower than a year earlier. The number receiving unemployment benefits in Marion County increased from 668 to 828. The county’s workforce also grew by 87 people to 16,091.
The lowest unemployment in the region was in Clinton County, where the rate increased one-tenth of a percent to 2.7-percent. Washington County’s rate fell one-tenth of a percent to 2.9-percent. Jefferson County’s rate was stable at 4.6-percent. Clay County’s rate was down two-tenths of a percent to 3.8 percent. Fayette County’s rate fell a tenth of a percent to 3.9-percent. Clay County’s unemployment is down 1.5-percent compared to last August while most other rates are down between a half and full percent.
There were 500 fewer nonfarm jobs in the Centralia-Mt. Vernon labor market this August compared to last year according to the Department of Employment Security. The biggest increases in jobs was in private education-health services up 400 and government up 75 jobs. Jobs in construction, information and other services remained unchanged. The biggest job losses were in professional-business services down 300 jobs. Trade-transportation and utilities was also down 300 jobs. Manufacturing dropped 150 jobs, financial activities were down 100 jobs, leisure hospitality down 75 jobs and natural resources-mining dropped 25 jobs.
