Mercer County’s unemployment rate continues to be below the statewide rate. The latest local jobless rate is at 6.8 percent for October, which is 8-percentage points better than the same period a year ago. The unemployment picture is also better compared to last year at this time in Henry, Knox, Warren and Rock Island Counties. In the region, the biggest job gains last month were recorded in the government sector. Statewide, the unemployment rate is 8.4 percent. The highest unemployment rate in Western Illinois is in Fulton County at 8.9 percent.