Mercer County unemployment at 4.1 percent. The number is for July and represents a four-point improvement from the same period a year ago. Unemployment is also down from year over year levels in Henry, Henderson, Knox, Rock Island and Warren Counties mainly due to job gains in the Professional-Business Services, Manufacturing and Leisure-Hospitality sectors. Also last month, the unemployment rate fell in all 14-Illinois metro areas, according to Bob Gough with the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
The Illinois unemployment rate is 4.3 percent with the national rate at 4.1 percent.