Mercer County’s unemployment rate sits at 6.4 percent. The number is for January and compares to a 7.5 percent figure recorded the same time a year ago, according to data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Unemployment is also lower from year over year levels in Henderson, Henry, Knox, Rock Island, and Warren counties.
In the region, total nonfarm employment decreased by 1,000 compared to January 2024.
The Government (+400), Retail Trade (+200) and Other Services (+100) sectors had payroll gains over-the-year. The Professional and Business Services (-600), Manufacturing (-400), Wholesale Trade (-300), Private Education-Health Services (-200), Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (-100) and Leisure-Hospitality (-100) sectors recorded employment declines over-the-year.
Statewide, the unemployment rate is at 5.0 percent.
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.