The Mercer County unemployment rate at 5.5 percent. The number is for April and compares to a 4.1 percent figure one year ago, according to date from the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
Unemployment is also up from year over levels in Henderson, Henry, Knox, Rock Island, and Warren counties.
In the region, total nonfarm employment decreased 2,100 compared to April 2023.
Retail Trade (+300), Other Services (+300), Private Education-Health Services (+300), Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+200), Wholesale Trade (+200), and Government (+100) had payroll gains over-the-year. The Professional-Business Services (-2,400), Leisure-Hospitality (-500), Manufacturing (-400), Financial Activities (-100) and Construction (-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 4.4 percent.