Jobless Figures for July Same, Better Than Year Earlier

Unemployment rates for July for area counties were the same or better than one year earlier.

The Effingham County jobless rate was 3.4%, compared to 3.5% one year earlier.

Area counties, and their numbers:

Cumberland--3.4%, down from 3.7% in July 2017

Shelby--4.1%, the same rate as a year earlier

Clay--4.9%, down from 5.2% one year earlier

Fayette--4.8%, down from 5.3% a year earlier

Jasper--4.8%, the same as one earlier

Employers posted increased demand for employees in Health Services, Retail Trade, Manufacturing, Transportation, and Warehousing.

Construction, Other Services, and Mining showed slightly decreased demand over the year.