Unemployment Rates Still Low, but Up from Year Earlier

The Effingham County jobless rate in November was 3.6%, up from 3.3% in November 2017.

In area counties, here were the rates:

Coles--4.4%, up from 4.1% one year earlier

Cumberland--3.6%, up from 3.3% one year earlier

Shelby--4.4%, up from 4% in November 2017

Clay--5%, up from 4.6% one year earlier

Fayette--5.2%, up from 4.8% one year earlier

Jasper--4.4%, up from 4.2% one year earlier

The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported area employers advertised for 3,100 positions in November and approximately 76% sought full-time employment. Employers need more workers than the help wanted advertising indicates because some industries, such as Construction, typically do not post advertised job openings.

South Central Illinois November 2018 unemployment rates increased slightly in 17 counties and decreased in one compared to November 2017 rates.

Top economic sectors included retail trade, health care and social assistance, administrative and support, and transportation. Occupations with the greatest demand included retail sales workers, truck drivers, food preparation and servers, registered nurses, and cashiers.