The Mercer County unemployment rate now at 6.3 percent. The number is for December and represents a 1.7 percent increase from the same period a year ago. Unemployment is also up from year over year levels in Knox, Warren, Rock Island, Henry and Henderson Counties. In the region, total non-farm employment increased 2,200 compared to December 2017. The Manufacturing (+900), Leisure-Hospitality (+700), and Professional-Business Services (+500) sectors reported the largest payroll gains. Retail Trade (-500) and Information (-200) sectors recorded employment declines compared to one year ago. Statewide, the jobless rate rose in all but one of the state’s 14 metro areas from year ago levels. The good news is that more jobs were posted in December of 2018 says Illinois Department of Employment Security spokesperson Bob Gough.
Statewide, the unemployment rate is 4.4 percent with the national rate at 3.7 percent. The highest unemployment rate in the region is 7.1 percent in Stark County.