Effingham County April Jobless Rate at 14%

The Effingham County unemployment rate for April was an even 14%, 11% higher than the same month in 2019.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported job losses occurred all industries and there were no industry sectors that recorded job growth in a majority of metro areas across the state.

As far as area counties and jobless rates for April:

Cumberland--10.5%, up from 7.5% one year earlier

Shelby--11.5%, up from 3.3% a year earlier

Clay--23.8%, up from 4% one year earlier

Fayette--13.8%, from 3.8% one year earlier

Jasper--10.5%, up from 3.5% one year earlier

In the Effingham area, non-farm employment decreased by 2,600 compared to last year.

Employment gains were posted in Construction (75 jobs), Natural Resources and Mining (25 jobs), and Information (25 jobs)

Payrolls decreased in Manufacturing (1,025), Leisure and Hospitality (725), Educational and Health Services (375), Professional and Business Services (250), Other Services (200), Government (150), and Financial Activities (75).

The Illinois jobless rate in April was 16.9%, a record high for the month of April, dating back to 1976. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 14.4%, also a record high, dating back to 1948.

The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment.