VERNON: Unemployment in Jefferson County continued to fall during May, coming in at 6.5 percent, down from 6.7 percent in April. The fall is a continuation of a trend from March, when unemployment was at 7.3 percent in the county. Although the county has seen a decrease in unemployment, unemployment rates rose in most metropolitan areas of the state.
“While some metro areas saw job growth, too many didn’t,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “Key structural reforms can help the state grow more jobs as we sharpen our efforts to help unemployed job-seekers get back to work.”
Illinois unemployment came in at 5.6 percent in May, down slightly from 5.7 in May 2015, and lower than the 6.2 percent unemployment reported in April this year. Compared to the United States rates, Illinois still lags behind. The U.S. rate in April was at 4.7 percent; the May rate is at 4.5 percent unemployment, down from the 5.3 percent unemployment of May 2015.
Unemployment rates reported for counties surrounding Jefferson were: Franklin County at 8.5 percent, up from 7.3 percent reported a year ago, but down from the 8.8 percent reported the previous month; Wayne County at 8.5 percent, up from 6.8 percent unemployment for May 2015; and down from 8.7 percent reported in April. Perry County at 7.1 percent unemployment, up from 6.9 percent reported for the same time last year and down from 7.3 percent reported in April;
Marion County at 6.5 percent unemployment, up from 6.1 percent reported in May 2015 and down from 6.7 percent reported in April; Hamilton County at 6 percent unemployment, up from the 4.7 percent reported a year ago and down slightly from the 6.2 percent reported in April; and Washington County at 3.9 percent, up from 3.6 percent reported a year ago and steady with the 3.9 percent reported in the previous month.
