The Mercer County unemployment rate sits at 6-percent. The number is for March and represents a four-point increase from the same period a year ago, according data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
The unemployment rate is also up from year over year levels in Henderson, Henry, Knox, Rock Island, and Warren counties.
In the region, total nonfarm employment decreased by 2,500 compared to March 2023.
Other Services (+300), Wholesale Trade (+300), Government (+300), Financial Activities (+100) and Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+100) had payroll gains over-the-year. The Professional-Business Services (-2,200), Manufacturing (-600), Construction (-400), Leisure-Hospitality (-300) and Private Education-Health Services (-100) 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, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.
Statewide, the unemployment rate is 5-percent.
