The Mercer County unemployment rate sits at 4.1 percent. The number is for April and represents a three-point improvement from the same period a year ago. Unemployment is also down from year over year levels in Henderson, Henry, Knox, Rock Island and Warren Counties mainly due to job gains in the Professional-Business Services, Leisure-Hospitality and Manufacturing sectors. Statewide, the unemployment rate is also down in all 14 metro areas compared to last year at this time says Illinois Department of Employment Security spokesman Bob Gough.
The current Illinois rate is 3.6 percent with the national rate at 3.7 percent.