Unemployment is down to 6.4 percent in Mercer County. The November number was released today by the Illinois Department of Employment Security and compares to the 7.6 percent figure recorded last year at this time. Unemployment is also down compared to a year ago in Rock Island, Warren, Henry, and Knox Counties, but is slightly higher in Henderson County. In the region, employment gains were made in the manufacturing and government sectors. The highest unemployment rate in the area is 9 percent in Fulton County.  The Illinois unemployment rate for November is 8.2 percent. It’s 7.4 percent nationally.