The Mercer County unemployment rate at 4.3 percent. The number is for October and compares to a 3.2 percent figure recorded a year ago, according to data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
Unemployment also up from year over year levels in Henderson, Henry, Knox, Rock Island, and Warren counties. In the region, total nonfarm employment increased by 700 compared to October 2022.
Government (+3,000), Leisure-Hospitality (+900), Educational-Health Services (+400), and Other Services (+100) had payroll gains over-the-year. The Professional-Business Services (-2,400), Retail Trade (-600), Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (-200), and Manufacturing (-200) sectors recorded the largest employment declines over-the-year.
Statewide, the unemployment rate sits at 4.5 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.
