The Mercer County unemployment rate is 4.5 percent. The number is for December and compares to a 4.3 percent figure recorded the same period a year ago, according to data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
Year-over-year, unemployment is also steady in Henderson, Henry, Knox, Warren, and Rock Island counties.
In the region, total nonfarm employment decreased by 1,700 compared to December 2023.
Government, Private Education-Health Services, Other Services, and Mining-Construction had payroll gains over-the-year. The Professional-Business Services, Manufacturing, Leisure-Hospitality, Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities, and Wholesale Trade sectors recorded employment declines over-the-year.
The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. A person who exhausts benefits, or is ineligible, will still be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.
Statewide, the unemployment rate is 4.3 percent.
