The Mercer County unemployment rate at 5.1 percent. The number is for March and compares to a 6.0 percent figure that was 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 -1,600 compared to March 2024.
The Government (+200), Other Services (+200) and Retail Trade (+100) sectors had payroll gains over-the-year. The Professional-Business Services (-600), Manufacturing (-300), Wholesale Trade (-300), Private Education-Health Services (-300), Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (-200), Mining-Construction (-200) and Leisure-Hospitality (-200) 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 5.0 percent.
