Mercer County’s unemployment rate at 3.6 percent. The number is for November and compares to a 3.5 percent figure recorded a year ago, according to data released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
Unemployment is also steady from year over year levels in Henderson, Henry, Knox, Rock Island and Warren counties.
In the region, total nonfarm employment increased by 1,000 compared to November 2022.
Government (+1,900), Leisure-Hospitality (+1,200), Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+300), Educational-Health Services (+200) and Wholesale Trade (+100) had payroll gains over the year. The Professional-Business Services (-2,400), Information (-100), Construction (-100) and Manufacturing (-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 at 4.2 percent.