The Mercer County unemployment rate at 6.0 percent. The number is for February and represents a one-percent improvement from the same time a year ago. Unemployment also improved year-over-year in Henderson, Henry, Knox, Rock Island, and Warren counties, according to data released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
In the region, total nonfarm employment decreased by 1,300 compared to February 2024.
The Government (+300), Retail Trade (+200) and Other Services (+200) sectors had payroll gains over-the-year. The Professional-Business Services (-600), Manufacturing (-400), Wholesale Trade (-300), Private Education-Health Services (-300), Tansportation-Warehousing-Utilities (-200) and Leisure-Hospitality (-200) sectors recorded employment declines over-the-year.
Statewide, the unemployment rate stands at 5.1 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.
