The Mercer County unemployment rate at 5.3 percent. The number is for March and compares to a 5.5 percent reading a year ago. Unemployment is also steady from year over year numbers in Henry, Knox, Rock Island, and Warren counties.
In the region, total nonfarm employment increased by 1,000 compared to March 2022.
Leisure-Hospitality (+1,000), Manufacturing (+800), Educational-Health Services (+600), and Wholesale Trade (+500) had the largest payroll gains over the year. The Professional-Business Services (-1,500), Construction (-600), and Retail Trade (-400) sectors recorded the largest 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 4.3 percent.