The Mercer County unemployment rate now at 7.3 percent. The number is for March and represents a 1.2 percent increase from the same period a year ago. Unemployment is also up compared to year over year levels in Henderson, Henry, Knox, Rock Island and Warren Counties. In the region, the Manufacturing, Professional Business Services, Construction and Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities sectors had the biggest employment gains compared to March of 2018 with the largest declines in the Educational-Health Services, Retail Trade and Government sectors. Statewide, the unemployment rate rose slightly in 12 metro areas compared to year ago levels, but jobs were added in places like the Chicago area, Lake County, Peoria and Carbondale says Sam Salustro with the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
Statewide, the unemployment rate is 4.5 percent with the national rate at 3.9 percent.