The Mercer County unemployment rate now 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. In the region, total non-farm employment increased +1,000 compared to July 2018. The Construction (+1,800), Leisure-Hospitality (+600), Manufacturing (+600), and Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+300) sectors reported the largest payroll gains. The Educational-Health Services (-1,000), Retail Trade (-700), and Professional-Business Services (-400) sectors recorded the largest employment declines compared to one year ago. Statewide, the unemployment rate is 4.2 percent and Sam Salustro with the Illinois Department of Employment Security says July non-farm jobs increased over the year in the state’s 14 metro areas.
The national unemployment rate is 4.0 percent.