The Mercer County unemployment rate sits at 4.7 percent, which represents a six-point increase from the same period a year ago. The number is for October. Henderson, Henry, Knox, Rock Island and Warren counties also experienced similar gains in the unemployment rate last month compared to year over year levels. The October jobless rate also rose in 12 of the state’s 14 metro areas and Illinois Department of Employment Security spokesperson Bob Gough says some of that can be attributed to more people looking for jobs and not finding them right away. He notes there were jobs added compared to last year.
Statewide, the unemployment rate is 4.2 percent with the national rate at 3.5 percent.